The mother of the Australia Day police attacker says it’s like an ‘atomic bomb’ has gone off in her life after her son was killed after stabbing an officer at a Sydney pub.
Former labourer Nick Newman was wanted for alleged child sex offences – including rape and strangulation of a young girl – when he stabbed Detective Sergeant John Breda at the Maroubra Junction Hotel on Friday afternoon.
Speaking at the home she shared with her son in Sydney’s west, Newman’s heartbroken mother told Daily Mail Australia she felt ‘unbearable’ pain for both her family and the Det Sgt Breda.
Former labourer Nick Newman was wanted for alleged child sex offences – including rape and strangulation – when he stabbed Detective Sergeant John Breda at the Maroubra Junction Hotel on Friday afternoon
Court papers seen by Daily Mail Australia show Newman first raped and indecently assaulted the child in early 2014 and kept performing depraved acts until just two weeks ago
‘It’s like an atomic bomb, so painful and terrible,’ said Anne Newman.
‘It is very shocking … Unbearable pain, it’s so painful.
‘I can feel the pain of the other side, you know, the policeman who was stabbed.
‘I can feel the pain also. And I am praying for him that he will survive.
‘It’s not easy for him. He has kids, he have a family he needs to look after.’
Ms Newman lived with her son in a small red-brick Penrith flat with an Australian flag hung up on the wall.
She was recovering at home recovering from aplastic anemia, a serious medical condition, when she learned the news from loved ones last week.
Ms Newman said she hadn’t known about the allegations.
‘There are allegations, I don’t even know what’s happening, what’s going on.’
Another close relative, who asked not to be named, said she only learned of the claims early last week.
An arrest warrant was issued for Newman’s arrest on six charges of aggressive sexual assault and one of reckless strangulation on Wednesday.
Newman (pictured) failed to appear in court of child sex offences two days earlier, with the paedophile wanting to end his life rather than spend time in jail
Sergeant Breda (pictured) was stabbed twice by Newman while he was trying to arrest him
Ms Newman said her son was on anti-depressants and had suffered hardship in his life.
‘He have depression. He sees psychiatrist, and I don’t know his psychiatrist. He is taking depressant medication.’
He worked only on-and-off because of his illness, with his mother saying he had ‘a lot of hardship in his life’.
The other relative said the family’s main concern was for Newman’s children, who were struggling.
‘At the moment, my main concern is the kids.
‘It’s very hurtful for them, what they’re seeing everywhere.
‘There are a lot of questions we don’t have answers for.
A year before the fatal confrontation, Newman and two other survivalists started Strategic Threat Solutions, selling military-style gear
These knives were listed for sale on the site along with kevlar vests, ‘hard knuckle tactical gloves’, lockpicks, a variety of warfare-themed patches
‘It all happened so quickly.’
Neighbour Kate Chaseling claimed Newman had ‘brought the little community together’ in the block and denied the allegations could be true.
Detective Breda was in a serious but stable condition as of Sunday evening.
Court papers seen by Daily Mail Australia show Newman first raped and indecently assaulted the child in early 2014 and kept performing depraved acts until just two weeks ago.
Police then put out an urgent request for the community to be on the lookout for Newman, saying he had been known to frequent the Redfern, CBD and Nepean areas.
The devoted father and policeman (right) underwent emergency surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital as his devastated wife, Kim, (left) arrived to be by his bedside under police escort
The hero cop was still in hospital after a series of emergency surgeries after the knife damaged his liver and lungs and destroyed one of his kidney.
He needed 30 blood transfusions and faced more surgeries in his long recovery as his wife Kim stayed by his bedside supported by his colleagues.
A year before the fatal confrontation, Newman and two other survivalists started Strategic Threat Solutions, selling military-style gear.
Items for sale included kevlar vests, ‘hard knuckle tactical gloves’, lockpicks, a variety of warfare-themed patches, handcuffs, and even its brand of coffee.
Among all that was a $425 Israeli combat knife similar to the one used to stab Sergeant Breda – which officers described as a ‘killing knife’.
A hero detective was stabbed and his child rapist attacker was shot dead at a pub in Sydney
He was also active on forums of apocalypse survival group Zombie Eradication Response Team, which became a huge part of his life.
On his Facebook page, run under a disturbing pseudonym, Newman posted images of bullets, and weapons, shared strange memes, and photos of ‘rabid’ wolves with the word ‘insanity’ underneath.