Narelle Smith jailed for frying pan murder of former Sydney solicitor Peter McCarthy

A woman who brutally beat a “kind and generous” 77-year-old retired solicitor to death with a frying pan has been jailed for 24 years for the violent murder.

A woman who brutally beat a retired solicitor to death with a frying pan in an “explosive fit of anger” has been jailed for 24 years.

Narelle Fiona Smith has continuously denied any involvement in the brutal murder of 77-year-old man Peter McCarthy – and shook her head as Justice Mark Ierace detailed the

horrific circumstance of his death during her sentencing on Friday.

The 77-year-old was found bloodied by his worried ex-wife in December 2020, with a bent frying pan lying next to his body as well as broken furniture and glass.

Mr McCarthy’s ex-wife had gone to his South Coogee unit to check on him that morning, after he failed to respond to her text messages.

Peter McCarthy was found dead inside his South Coogee unit on December 20. Picture: Supplied

She opened his apartment to find his dead body and a ransacked apartment littered with broken furniture – a moment that continues to haunt her and impact her daily life, the court heard.

Mr McCarthy was described as a “kind, generous and genial” man, with his death having a profound impact on his family – in particular his son James.

“I feel guilty I could not save my father from his fate,” he told the court in a victim impact statement.

“We don’t know how to live anymore.”

During a trial before a jury last year, the court heard Mr McCarthy and Smith, 48, had been drinking together at his unit on the day he died.

The jury found she flew into a fit of rage – triggered by her use of alcohol and past trauma – and attacked the elderly man.

Narelle Smith was arrested by the homicide squad following Mr McCarthy’ death. Picture: 9 NEWS

She struck the 77-year-old to the head, face and body multiple times with a frying pan and other objects. Her use of the pan was so aggressive the handle had snapped off and the shape was deformed.

Smith’s DNA evidence was found under Mr McCarthy’s fingernails and clumps of her hair were scattered around his body.

At the time of the attack, the 48-year-old told police she “didn’t really know” Mr McCarthy and denied attacking him.

During Smith’s sentencing on Friday, Justice Ierace said in the lead up to Mr McCarthy’s murder, Smith’s “recent pattern of violence had accelerated”.

“They were characterised by explosive outbursts,” he said.

“Although her precise motive is unknown – her outburst was likely in response to something said or done by the deceased that unknowingly upset her.”

The court heard he was “emotionally unstable” with several mental health issues triggered by sexual assault and domestic violence at the hands of several partners over the years.

The court heard she lacked “any remorse or insight” and her prospects of rehabilitation were “unknown”.

Justice Ierace imposed a non-parole period of 15-years which will expire in 2035.