He is the man accused of brutally beating Lorna Wade so badly that her skull was cracked, bringing her to within inches of death. And today when 46-year-old Eston Young appeared before the Chief Justice, he told him he didn't want a trial date because he is guilty. Young was charged with attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm for the June 2004 attack but this afternoon he pleaded guilty to attempted murder. It's the end of a case which has become much more than just an attack on Lorna wade. We can never forget the images we first saw of her on 7NEWS just days after the attack. And since then she has become a living portrait of a domestic abuse survivor. After this afternoon's surprising development in court, we tracked down an elated Lorna who told us that finally, she can move on.
Lorna Wade,
"First it surprised me because his thing was like to finish me off and
so today it was like a big surprise because I was scared. I didn't know his intention of pleading guilty would have caused to finally remind me that I have the rest of life to live and I just want live it to the fullest now."
Keith Swift,
Were you in court?
Lorna Wade,
"Yes I was and I was a bit nervous for being there with him also and a bit nervous."
Keith Swift,
Were you prepared to testify against them?
Lorna Wade,
"Yes I was. I just said I would just leave it alone but I had to think about the rest of women that are going through the same thing I went through and probably someone in the future going through what I went through, and if I gave up, I'll be giving them a reason to say there's no hope and my thing is not its not for me, its for them."
Jules Vasquez,
And since you forgive him, what sentence would you want to serve?
Lorna Wade,
Hmm, sentence? In my heart I am a forgiving and I can't really say. My thing is if I was the judge, I would just say to give him two or three years but other people will say otherwise."
Eston Young will be sentenced on Monday. We don't know if prosecutors will go ahead with the use of deadly means of harm charge.
