Unchecked Illness: A Bridge Too Far

0:00It's April 8th. You're listening to Sydney News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. In September 2023, a 39-year-old woman named Hoda, Elabadi, threw two young girls off a bridge into Sydney's George River. She faced charges of attempting to drown them with intent to murder, but a court just ruled she's not criminally responsible due to her severe mental illness. Her lawyer explained she suffers from schizophrenia and was deep in acute psychosis at the time. Hallucinations commanded her to kill the girls and then in her own life. She stood watching them fight the current before jumping in herself, suffering bad injuries to her legs. The girls endured two terrifying hours in the water, clinging to a submerged object with just a stick for support. They hugged tight, screamed for help, and a passerby finally rescued them. The judge commended their incredible bravery amid the horror. People help experts testified her condition went untreated since age 17, worsening in

1:01the months before, with talks of angels and evil marks, on her body. One specialist confirmed she had no grasp that her actions were wrong. With ongoing treatment, she shows no psychotic symptoms now, and poses no threat to anyone. This case highlights how unchecked illness can lead to tragedy, but proper care changes