Man pleads guilty to attempted murder at luxurious Pitt St hotel

A man has plead guilty to attempting to kill a woman he allegedly bashed with a sledgehammer at a luxurious Sydney CBD hotel.

Matthew Donaldson, 43, appeared in Central Local Court on Thursday where he plead guilty to one count of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

Court documents state that Donaldson attempted to kill the woman, a 26-year-old Belarusian sex worker, between 8.38pm and 9.03pm on February 23, 2021, at the former Primus Hotel on Pitt Street.

The victim was taken to the hospital with severe head, facial and abdominal injuries.

According to police Donaldson allegedly purchased a sledgehammer and rope at Bunnings before he carried out the attack.

He made a booking with the woman through the Scarlet Blue escort service. Donaldson allegedly met her in the lobby of the Primus Hotel before taking her up to his room where the attack occurred.

CCTV footage showed Donaldson leaving the hotel after the attack and catching a train to Lapstone.

After two days on the run, police found the Donaldson hiding in bushland at Lapstone, where he later showed them the location of a handgun he had thrown away. 

Before the attack, Donaldson posted pictures to his Facebook page of him at a shooting range and a huge collection of video games and consoles with a caption that said “25 years of gaming”.

After the attack he posted two photos of his hotel room. On the social media platform, a woman asked what game he was playing. He wrote: “life or death, I lost”.

Donaldson was committed to the NSW District Court for sentence and remains remanded in custody.

His case due to return to court in June.

Irit Jackson, 16^th May 2022