Attacked pensioner's 'four months of hell' endsThe elderly woman attacked in a home invasion in November, who celebrated her 100th birthday last month, has died.
An autopsy is to be held today on 100-year-old Thelma Lawrence who died in hospital four months after she was allegedly assaulted in her Rangiora Avenue home.
Neighbours were alerted to the incident when they heard her screaming as she fought off her attacker for 10 minutes until police arrived at 2am on November 13.
Mrs Lawrence, who celebrated her milestone birthday last month, passed away in her Palmerston North hospital bed. Her three daughters were present.
The man charged with the attack, 20-year-old Glen Patrick Joseph Walsh, was committed to trial facing charges of sexual assault, assault and burglary.
He is currently on bail awaiting his next appearance on April 9.
Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan said at this stage no further charges had been laid.
A post mortem would be carried out today.
Mrs Lawrence's daughter, who did not wish to be named, said the death had left a "big, big hole".
She suffered "four months of hell", with constant flashbacks while in hospital.
They had been preparing her to be put in a rest home before she died on Thursday night.
They were called in last Sunday when nurses found she had taken ill. She got progressively worse from there, she said.
"She was just too weak to cope. We were lucky to have her that many years."
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, she said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2285193/Attacked-pensioners-four-months-of-hell-ends
