A woman has been charged with murder after she reportedly decapitated her in front of a four-year-old relative.
In an incident which has been described as one of the most horrific ever seen by police officers, police in Sydney Australia say the woman was arrested following the incident on Saturday night.
According to reports in the Australian press, the woman apparently decapitated her mother following a major row at the family home.
Police investigating the incident say the 57-year-old victim sustained multiple injuries during the altercation, whilst the infant child was taken to hospital with a minor head injury.
It is not known what caused the violent crime to occur, but the accused a 25-year-old woman has appeared before a court in Sydney, where she was charged with murder and summoned to undergo a medical assessment.
Meanwhile reports state that officers investigating the murder have since been offered counselling.