Sydney: Words Jessica Camilleri allegedly asked police at the scene of her mother’s decapitation

A Sydney woman on trial for her mother’s decapitation murder asked police at the scene if doctors could work ‘miracles’ and ‘sew her head back on’, a court has heard.

‘No, that’s a bit of a stretch,’ an officer told the blood-sprayed Jessica Camilleri on her neighbour’s front yard soon after the July 2019 homicide, according to evidence presented by police.

Footage of the conversation was played on Wednesday to the NSW Supreme Court, where Camilleri has pleaded not guilty to murder.

The jury is set to decide if the charge could be reduced to manslaughter due to the partial defence of being unable to control her actions due to a substantial impairment of the mind.

Sydney woman, Jessica Camilleri (pictured), is on trial for allegedly decapitating her own mother in 2019 and parading her head outside

She asked police at the scene if doctors could work ‘miracles’ and ‘sew her [mothers] head back on’, according to police evidence (pictured, her mother Rita Camilleri)

Camilleri, then 25, stabbed Rita Camilleri more than 100 times in the St Clair home they shared before taking her mother’s head to the footpath and knocking on her neighbour’s door, the trial has heard.

She was stopped by police on her neighbour’s front yard, wearing nothing but a dress and with hands coated in blood, the footage showed.

‘I’m sorry but my mum’s had enough of me,’ the daughter, then 25, told Senior Constable Anthony D’Agostino.

She continuously asked for confirmation that there was nothing that could be done to bring her mother back.

‘I’m certain that once you lose your head, that’s it,’ the officer replied.

Camilleri said the attack occurred as she was heading for a shower.

‘This was self-defence – my mum picked up the knife first,’ she said.

‘This is all self-defence but no one’s going to believe me

‘I’ve been in and out of a mental health unit. I’ve got a mental illness … I’ve got a lot of things. I can’t really explain it to you much.’

At one point, she told police she’d never murdered anyone in her life – ‘this is a first’ – and questioned whether in a decade ‘this’ will pass.

‘I’m sure I can apologise to her in heaven, when I cross to the other side,’ she said.

Camilleri, then 25, stabbed Rita Camilleri more than 100 times in the St Clair home they shared before taking her mother’s head to the footpath and knocking on her neighbour’s door, the trial has heard (pictured, blood on the pavement)

In his opening address on Monday, prosecutor Tony McCarthy said the mother was said to have been ‘overly protective and defensive’ of her daughter’s behaviour, often placating her to avoid conflict.

Camilleri had suffered social, behavioural and learning difficulties including ADHD since she was a child, and was later diagnosed with conditions including anxiety, rage disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.

She had a history of assaulting people, some involving random victims and other relatives, as well as of harassing and repeatedly threatening strangers over the phone, the prosecutor said.

Kristi Torrisi told the jury her younger sister constantly watched horror movies with her favourites being The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jeepers Creepers.

‘She liked horror movies where there was killing and dismemberment,’ she said.

Her sister had a bad temper and was very demanding of their mother, Ms Torrisi said.

The trial continues.