<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Do you want to go to heaven?" </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was the last question a young girl heard before she was thrown into a river wearing her princess dress and school shoes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She had been standing on a bridge over the Georges River in Sydney's south west with another girl in September 2023 when Hoda Elabady posed the query, according to court documents.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nationals-leader-matt-canavan-unveils-economic-plan-to-create-australia-on-steroids/132eb1ae-6d91-4531-9157-24b216a02423"><strong><span>Nationals leader unveils plan to create an 'Australia on steroids'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No, I have a bright future," the child replied, revealing her dream to be a police officer when she grows up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Elabady then picked her up and threw her into the water 1.8 metres below the bridge, a court was told.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 39-year-old then asked the second girl whether she wanted to "go to God" before also throwing her from the bridge. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/hoda-elabady-not-held-criminally-responsible-for-trying-to-drown-girls-in-river/be7af1e3-0c59-43fe-ae8d-375f4de1eb9b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She faced a NSW District Court today after pleading not guilty to two counts of attempting to drown the girls with intent to murder. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Elabady could not be held responsible for her actions due to her severe mental illness, her lawyer previously argued.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She lives with schizophrenia and was experiencing acute psychosis which involved hallucinations telling her to kill the girls and die by suicide.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Elabady had watched from above, anger plastered on her face, as the two girls struggled to remain above the water, Judge Huw Baker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Please let us back up," one of the girls yelled.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead the woman attempted to die by suicide, sustaining significant injuries to her legs and lower body, the court was told.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Standing on something submerged in the river, with nothing but a stick to help them stay afloat, the girls hugged each other and tried to signal for help.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A passer-by finally heard their calls at midday and pulled them from the water before they were taken to hospital, Judge Baker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fiji-severe-tropical-cyclone-vaianu-weather-travel-warning-exclusive/e4e97ea6-16c1-48f3-8a77-6b1da7227dd5"><strong><span>Aussies trapped in Fiji as cyclone wreaks havoc: 'Didn't feel safe'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(We) recognise the bravery of the two young girls who, for a very terrifying two hours, were in the water in the Georges River in what can only be described as the most horrific and terrifying circumstances," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The judge found Elabady had tried to drown the children but could not be held criminally responsible for her actions because of her mental illnesses. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She is believed to have been living with an untreated mental impairment since she was 17 years old, according to mental health experts cited in court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Elabady's mental health deteriorated in the months before the incident, the court was told.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She began telling others she had been talking with an angel and one day said the "evil touched me" before revealing a mark on her thigh.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of the specialists had "absolute medical confidence" she did not know what she had done was wrong, Judge Baker noted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She currently shows no overt symptoms of psychosis and, with ongoing treatment, he said she would not pose a risk to herself or the community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>