Car off cliff, Bar Beach: Krista Rapley denied release from Mater’s mental health unit

A proposal for a Wallsend woman to have a staggered release from Mater’s mental health unit has been knocked back, to be revisited next week.

The scene at Bar Beach, Newcastle, where a car plunged of a car park lookout into the sea. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

A Newcastle Magistrate has knocked back a proposal for a Wallsend woman to have a staggered release from Newcastle’s Mater Hospital, saying he’s not confident she doesn’t present an unacceptable risk to the community.

Krista Lynne Rapley, 46, drove her car off a 30 metre cliff at Bar Beach in September, striking Lambton woman Bronwyn Constable on the beach below and narrowly missing her husband Dave.

Mr Constable told The Newcastle News, it was miraculous no-one died and still had “flashbacks” of the car coming over the cliff, likening the debris to an “asteroid field”.

David and Bronwyn Constable pictured with son Malachi, days after the crash. Picture: David Swift

One of the occupants of the car is taken to an ambulance at Bar Beach. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Ms Constable received three screws in her hip following emergency surgery a day later and also suffered a fractured femur.

Rapley - who was also injured in the crash — was charged with driving in a manner dangerous causing grievous bodily harm and was ordered as part of her bail to seek treatment at the Mater’s mental health unit.

In Newcastle Local Court on Monday, Rapley again didn’t appear, but her solicitor Mark Ramsland said he had a proposal for his client for a staged release from hospital so she could return home.

“It’s a three week proposal,” he told the court.

Mr Constable and Malachi were escorted from the beach. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

He noted a community health team would meet with Ms Rapley next week to formulate a management plan for her rehabilitation.

On hearing this, Magistrate David Price questioned whether they should wait until then to revisit the proposal and grant her release from hospital.

“I don’t see how there could be any real confidence that she doesn’t present an unacceptable risk to community until the meeting. Until then why should she be in the community,” Magistrate Price said.

“Once they have conducted that meeting and a treatment plan can be done, that plan could be part of a release application.

“When the meeting is conducted, we can try again next week.”

Ms Rapley’s matter was also adjourned until January for charge certification.

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