Asmita Pandey pleads guilty to assaulting Epping nursing home residents

A nursing assistant who slapped four elderly, ‘uncooperative’ residents at a northwest Sydney aged care centre has pleaded guilty to the attacks as victims’ devastated families watched on in court.

Asmita Pandey pleaded guilty to four counts of assault at Estia Health aged care centre at Epping.

She was entrusted to care for vulnerable, ailing residents at Estia Health aged care centre at Epping, but instead nursing assistant Asmita Pandey spent her shift assaulting four women she was getting ready for bed.

They all had dementia, many with weak frames with no chance of defending themselves when Pandey would walk into their rooms and slap their faces because they were being “loud” or “uncooperative”.

Over four months from December, 2021, to March, 2022, the Homebush woman slapped four women – Therzina Morrison, Joan Murray, Catherine Harrison and Jill Woods.

At Parramatta Local Court on Monday, a hearing for two days was scheduled but Pandey entered guilty pleas to four counts of common assault.

A charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm was withdrawn for Pandey, who the court heard was pregnant and enlisted the help of an interpreter.

Several families of the victims - who paid $7000 a month to stay at the home – were present in the courtroom.

Asmita Pandey leaves Parramatta Local Court after pleading guilty to four counts of assault at Estia Health aged care centre, Epping.

Police facts tendered to the court state Ms Morrison, 95, was slapped between February and late March last year because she was “not being co-operative” when Pandey was putting her to bed.

Another victim, Mrs Murray, also suffered a slap between February and March when Pandey was working to get her into bed after she was changed her into her pyjamas.

“The victim was being uncooperative, (Pandey) sat the victim on the bed and with an open hand, slapped the victim across the face then placed the victim into bed,’’ the police facts stated.

Joan Murray was slapped by nursing assistant Asmita Pandey at her Epping nursing home.

Joan Murray weighed just 30kg.

“(Pandey) picked up the victim’s clothing from the floor then left the room.’’

It was in December, 2021, or January, 2022, when a co-worker witnessed Pandey slap Jill Woods, 82, during a night shift.

About 6am the witness was preparing to give Ms Woods a shower when she asked her co-worker Pandey to help her place the victim on the shower chair. The victim “tended to be very restrictive and loud when trying to shower her”.

“A few minutes into showering the victim, the victim started screaming, which was normal for her to do whilst showering her,’’ the police facts state.

The fourth victim, Ms Harrison, was slapped on March 24, 2022, after Pandey and a witness walked into her room in the memory support unit of the aged care centre so they could dress her in her night wear.

“The victim was very agitated this day,’’ police facts state.

“She became stiff and didn’t want staff to change her. The victim was throwing her hands around and being difficult. (Pandey) appeared to get upset and used an open hand, slapped victim on the side of the head.’’

Police arrested Pandey at her Homebush unit on March 30 where her husband was home.

She was charged with four counts of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The latter charge was withdrawn.

Families devastated

Outside court, sisters Merelynne Southall and Rosslyn Peschke spoke about their mother, Joan Murray, 95, who died in July.

She weighed just 30kg and was 95 year old when Pandey attacked her.

Their mother was a polio survivor who walked with a limp.

“It makes what Asmita did really pathetic,’' Mrs Peschke said.

“We don’t know her rational behind it.

“We feel a little bit ripped off that we didn’t get to hear from her.’’

Merelynne Southall and Rosslyn Peschke's mother Joan Murray was assaulted by Asmita Pandey.

Robyn Ball's mother Rita "Dawn" Ball after the brief hearing when charges against Pandey towards her mother were dropped.

“There needs to be a better system.’’

Mrs Peschke said their mother died four months after the family was informed about the attack.

Ms Woods has since died after the incident.

The charge that was dropped allegedly related to Robyn Hall’s mother, Rita “Dawn” Hall, who remains at the Norfolk St home.

Magistrate Stephen Barlow adjourned the matter for sentencing on March 17.