Woman wants to plead guilty over teen's bashing murder

A woman charged with the bashing murder of teenager Jason Galleghan will undergo a psychiatric check before she is allowed to plead guilty to the shocking crime.

Kayla Dawson, 22, and Richard Sione, 34, pleaded not guilty to murder as a judge-alone trial started in the NSW Supreme Court on February 19.

On Friday, 10 days after the trial began, Dawson's barrister Paul Johnson said his client wanted to reverse her plea.

“I’m still being advised by my client today she wants to plead guilty," he told acting Justice Robert Hulme.

However, the plea will not be formally entered until after Dawson undergoes an assessment by forensic psychiatrist Adam Martin, who has been retained by crown prosecutors in the case.

"I won't presume if she’s fit, she’s able to make that decision (to plead guilty)," said Mr Johnson. 

"And if she’s not, we’ll take another course."

Jason was bashed to death by a group largely made up of teenagers at a western Sydney property in August 2021.

As the trial opened in February, the court heard an "upset and crying" Dawson told the group the 16-year-old had stolen her AirPods, to which Sione replied "bring him over and we’ll talk to him".

When Jason arrived at the home, Sione allegedly told him to go to the bedroom and began assaulting him.

The trial has not been without its mishaps after a crown witness refused to show up and a bench warrant was put out for his arrest. 

Sione has maintained his pleas of not guilty to murder and an alternative charge of detaining Jason without consent for the "psychological satisfaction of assaulting and humiliating" him.

His trial is ongoing with senior crime scene officer Paul Weldon called to give evidence about his examination of the western Sydney home on Friday.

Dawson and her lawyers will return to the court on Monday after her psychiatric assessment is complete.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store