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Lucas Delaney has pleaded guilty to murdering his sister.Credit:Nine
“They say home is where the heart is and I feel homeless since my sister died,” she said.
Addressing her sibling, she said, “While I have so much anger and hatred for what you did, you were once my brother, so I can only hope you take this opportunity and use the resources available to you to better yourself.”
Their older brother Daniel Delaney said Gabriella had been going to do amazing things with her life.
He said her dog was traumatised over her death and would not let him, or any male, approach her now.
Crown prosecutor Rossi Kotsis said Delaney had intended killing his sister, but the agreed facts were bare as to an explanation of why it occurred.
“It is the Crown position the offender intentionally and repeatedly struck the victim to the head with a hammer,” he said.
In one account, he said he blacked out, but in another he said he thought he used a tool on a person he was communicating with online but looked down and realised it was his sister sitting on the couch.
His barrister, Brian Royce, referred to experts assessing Delaney as having had a mental illness and his use of drugs including ice, which could exacerbate his condition.
“I accept I can’t walk back from the fact he was taking illicit drugs and he has a history of using them in the context of his mental illness.”
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He said Delaney had written a letter expressing his remorse for his offending.
Kotsis said Delaney’s history indicated he must have been aware of the negative effects on him of his drug taking.
Friends and family had previously encouraged him to seek drug and alcohol treatment, he said.
Delaney will be sentenced on an unspecified date.
AAP
Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; Domestic Violence Line 1800 65 64 63; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.
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