Drink drive twin collapses before sentence



A WOMAN said to be at risk of suicide if separated from her identical twin sister has collapsed in a Sydney court before she could be sentenced over a drink-driving crash.


Sarah Elena Hay, 38, turned pale and appeared to have a fit in the dock, minutes after the judge took the bench in the District Court in Sydney.

The court has heard Hay and her twin sister Elizabeth could make a suicide pact if Hay is jailed over the August 2010 crash that led to a man’s arm being amputated.

The sisters are interdependent and have identical medical conditions involving a bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.

Hay’s mother, Patricia Hay, and her sister rushed over to the dock, although Elizabeth was not allowed to get too close to her twin.

“It’s OK darling, I love you,” Elizabeth told her.

Hay appeared to recover slightly before dissolving into tears, saying, “I’m scared”.

Paramedics were called to the court and Hay was due to be taken to hospital.

Her lawyer, Christopher Watson, told Judge Penelope Hock that Hay had not been given any medication in Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre, where she was placed in custody.

“She’s never ever had an episode like that before,” Mr Watson said.

“It’s quite serious.”

Hay, from Newport, has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, being under the influence of alcohol, occasioning grievous bodily harm to Brendon Robson at Newport on August 15, 2010.

The court has heard she is likely to be sentenced to more than two years’ imprisonment.

Judge Hock granted Hay bail to allow her to get medical treatment.

She will be sentenced at a later date.

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