Nurse’s chilling act over alleged rape

A nurse who tried to smash her way into a man’s house armed with a knife chillingly told police they were “lucky this wasn’t murder” after threatening to kill the man over an alleged rape, a court has been told.

Kristy Lee Edwards was supported by family in Brisbane District Court on Tuesday as she learned her fate for the violent attack at Varsity Lakes, on the Gold Coast, back in early 2021.

The 44-year-old’s actions were called “out of character” by District Court Judge John Allen – only explicable due to the belief the man had raped someone known to her and her “frustration” at the police investigation.

It was coupled with excessive drinking on the day of the offending.

“That explains your offending, but it doesn’t excuse it,” Judge Allen noted.

Edwards ultimately walked from court with a suspended sentence, having some 3.5 months spent in pre-sentence custody as time declared.

She was initially charged with attempted murder following the offending, but the Crown discontinued the charge.

Edwards instead pleaded guilty to charges of attempted burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threatening violence at night on a date prior to her sentencing.

The court was told the 29-year-old male victim and a person known to Edwards had been involved in a sexual relationship around the time of the offending.

The person known to Edwards alleged she had been raped by the 29-year-old but did not make any disclosures to police when they investigated.

On the night of March 7, 2021, Edwards found out the 29-year-old’s address in Varsity Lakes and drove there at 11pm, armed with kitchen knife.

Crown prosecutor Mel Wilson said Edwards began “screaming and banging” on the locked screen door and side glass panel.

She stabbed at the man with the kitchen knife through the screen door.

Edwards continued yelling “I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill this motherf**ker, you rapist little f**kwit” and claiming he had raped the person known to her, Ms Wilson said.

The court was told Edwards kicked the glass panel – injuring the man’s 66-year-old father when it shattered.

After police arrived, Edwards continued “ranting” about the alleged rape and threatened to kill the man.

During the arrest, she told police: “You’re lucky this isn’t murder”.

“She has engaged in serious behaviour over a relatively prolonged period, alarming and threatening (the family),” Ms Wilson said.

“It would no doubt have been a frightening experience for them.”

Barrister Tim Ryan, acting for Edwards, said the “unusual” circumstances of the offending involved his client learning of the alleged rape through a friend.

Police had seen the person known to Edwards twice before, inquiring about the alleged rape.

“(This person) was unwilling to disclose much information about it, and as a consequence the police couldn’t do anything about it,” Mr Ryan said.

No charges have been laid over the alleged incident.

The court was told the police investigation and the same person’s mental health issues had created an “enormous amount of frustration” for Edwards, who had been drinking excessively on the day she went to the house.

Mr Ryan said his client otherwise had an impressive work history as a registered nurse and working in aged care.

He said Edwards had paid a “high price” for the offending as she was unable to see her family while living in NSW on bail.

Edwards not only lost her employment but also her rental property, and would face difficulty in getting her nursing registration renewed, Mr Ryan said.

But Judge Allen told Edwards not to give up hopes of becoming registered again.

“Authorities take into account all circumstances of the matter,” he said.

“It doesn’t seem to me there would be any great purpose served in denying you that registration, if you were otherwise eligible.”

Edwards received a head sentence of 12 months’ jail, suspended for 18 months.