A cleaner on trial for allegedly fatally bashing and stabbing a 92-year-old woman, has told a Sydney court she must have passed out and woke up holding a knife.
Marjorie Welsh died in hospital six weeks after being violently attacked in her Ashbury home in Sydney's inner west, on January 2, 2019.
The 92-year-old, who lived independently, was found lying in blood, with six stab wounds and pieces of crockery stuck in her head.
She managed to activate a personal alarm, and when emergency crews arrived, told them she was beaten by her cleaner, Hanny Papanicolaou.
The 38-year-old cleaner who has pleaded not guilty to murder, told the Supreme Court she has depression and a gambling problem.
She told the court she couldn't recall why she drove to Ms Welsh's home on the day of the attack or why she jumped the fence.
The cleaner said she must have passed out and woke up holding a knife.
"I wake up surrounding by blood. I have blood in my hand … There is knife in my hand," Ms Papanicolaou said.
Crown prosecutor, Chris Taylor, put it to the witness that she was making up her evidence.
"I'm not pretending," she replied.
"I was in panic. I can't remember."
A paramedic first called to Ms Welsh's house, has previously given evidence that the 92-year-old was fully conscious and not confused when the ambulance arrived.
The court has also heard Ms Welsh was beaten so hard with her own walking sticks that they were broken in half.
She had bruises, broken bones, and multiple surgeries after the attack.
The trial before Justice Robertson Wright continues.
