A Wollongong court has been played shocking audio recording of a Thirroul carer yelling and swearing at an elderly dementia patient.
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Alicia Gawrosnki faced Wollongong Local Court on Friday for the first day of an expected two-day hearing on common assault and intimidation charges, amid allegations she abused 81-year-old Gladys Buchanan by punching her in the leg and intimidating her inside her Thirroul home.
Police were called to Ms Buchanan's Station Street home about 10.45pm on August 31 last year after a concerned neighbour reported hearing Gawronski, who is Ms Buchanan's legal guardian, "screaming" at her.
Senior Constable Brack Lipinski told the court he couldn't see what was happening inside the home when he and his partner arrived but could hear "muffled yelling" and someone, who he believed to be Ms Buchanan, "moaning and attempting to talk".
"I began to film a video to capture the audio," he said in a statement tendered to court.
In the recording, played in court on Friday, Gawronski can be heard repeatedly berating Ms Buchanan while directing her to be quiet and bend her knee.
"You're full of shit," Gawronski can be heard saying.
"You're a carry-on candy and you're full of shit. No one's going to believe someone who's full of shit and has dementia - remember that.
At one stage, Gawronski can be heard saying "do it again, I dare 'ya."
Ms Buchanan responds "No I didn't do that", prompting Gawronski to reply "you did. You slid your arse back on the seat; don't."
The two officers then moved to the front of the house and Snr Cst Lipinski made another recording, this time holding the camera up and videoing through the screen door into the house.
You're a carry-on candy and you're full of shit. No one's going to believe someone who's full of shit and has dementia - remember that.
While not captured in either recording, both senior constables said they saw Gawronski punch Ms Buchanan in the thigh.
"I then observed the accused use her left hand in a closed fist to punch the victim to the left inner thigh of the victim's leg," Snr Cst Lipinski said.
"I have observed this to have enough force to move the victim's leg as it impacted. The victim has let out a scream and a moan."
However, defence lawyer Elias Tabchouri suggested the actions seen by police had been Gawronski applying baby powder to Ms Buchanan's leg.
"She wasn't holding any baby powder," Snr Cst Lipinski replied.
The case will return to court on October 31.
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