A man accused of raping an elderly woman in a nursing home has been charged with murder more than a year after she died

A man accused of sneaking into a nursing home and raping an elderly woman has been charged with her murder a year after the alleged crime.

Brett Anthony Crawford, 34, allegedly broke into an aged care facility in Bateau Bay on the NSW Central Coast shortly after midnight on November 15, 2023, and attacked the 90-year-old woman in her room.

She suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital after raising the alarm with staff. She died 13 days later.

Crawford was arrested five days after the alleged attack and initially charged with aggravated burglary to commit a serious indictable offence, causing actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

He remains in custody and on Friday his charges were upgraded to include murder and manslaughter.

Police allege he also stole some of the woman’s belongings before leaving the retirement home.

Sex Crimes Squad Commander Jayne Doherty previously said the elderly woman was traumatized after the attack and suffered arm, leg and head injuries.

Officers believed the woman’s cries for help had been muffled by the bedding and that she had been pinned to the bed during the assault.

He remains in custody and on Friday his charges were upgraded to include murder and manslaughter

Nationals MP Bronnie Taylor revealed, under parliamentary privilege, after the woman died, that Crawford was recently released after serving 10 years in prison for a similar crime.

Crawford, then known as Brett Ralph, was told to leave a house party before later breaking in and raping a woman at knifepoint, she said.

He stabbed the woman in the face after raping her, Taylor said.

Crawford is scheduled to return to court on February 21.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

National Sexual Abuse and Redressal Support Service 1800 211 028