Chilling threats nurse made to kill a man over alleged rape

A nurse who tried to enter a man’s home armed with a knife chillingly told police they were ‘lucky this wasn’t murder’ after threatening to kill the man over an alleged rape, it has been revealed told the court.

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

The 44-year-old’s actions were called ‘out of character’ by District Court Judge John Allen – only explainable due to her belief that the man had raped an acquaintance and her ‘frustration’ with the police investigation.

It was accompanied by excessive drinking on the day of the crime.

“That explains your offending, but it does not excuse it,” Judge Allen noted.

Edwards ultimately left court with a suspended sentence, having spent three and a half months in pre-trial detention, as stated in the time.

She was initially charged with attempted murder after the crime, but the Crown dropped the charges.

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

Kristy Lee Edwards (pictured) threatened to kill the man after a woman she knew claimed he raped her

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

The person known to Edwards claimed she was raped by the 29-year-old, but did not make any statements to police during the investigation.

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

District Attorney Mel Wilson said Edwards began “yelling and banging” on the closed screen door and side window.

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

Edwards continued to shout: ‘I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill this bastard, you rapist you little f*****’ and claimed he had raped the person who knew 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 to rant about the alleged rape and threatened to kill the man.

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

“She behaved in a serious manner, alarming and threatening to the family over a relatively long period of time,” Wilson said.

Edwards (pictured) was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to attempted burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threatening violence at night

“It would undoubtedly have been a frightening experience for them.”

Lawyer Tim Ryan, acting for Edwards, said the ‘unusual’ circumstances of the crime led to his client learning of the alleged rape through a friend.

The police had seen the person known to Edwards twice before and inquired about the alleged rape.

“(This person) wasn’t willing to reveal much information about it, and as a result there was nothing the police could do about it,” Mr Ryan said.

No charges have been filed over the alleged incident.

The court was told the police investigation had taken place and the same person’s mental health problems had caused a ‘huge amount of frustration’ for Edwards, who had been drinking excessively on the day she went to the house.

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

Edwards (pictured) drove to the man’s house armed with a kitchen knife after discovering where he lived

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

Edwards lost not only her job, but also her rental property, and would face problems renewing her nursing registration, Mr Ryan said.

But Judge Allen told Edwards not to give up hope of being re-registered.

“The authorities are taking into account all the circumstances of the case,” he said.

“It doesn’t seem to me that there would be much point in denying you that registration if you would otherwise qualify.”

Edwards received a main sentence of 12 months in prison, of which 18 months were suspended.