Aliens were out to 'get' accused toddler killer, court hears

A NSW woman accused of killing her toddler daughter would often be soaking wet and keen to talk about aliens when her housemate returned from work, a court has heard.

Aged-care nurse Tammy Bourke told the NSW Supreme Court in Newcastle on Friday that the woman would claim there had been flashing lights down by a nearby lake and aliens were "coming to get her".

The 44-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is on trial after pleading not guilty to murdering her toddler between December 25, 2000, and December 25, 2001.

The prosecution argues the girl was born in 1999 and has not been seen since Christmas the following year.

The accused woman moved into Ms Bourke's home on the Central Coast in early 1997 and stayed for between six and eight months.

There were times when the accused woman would be soaking wet "from head to toe", Ms Bourke told the court.

The woman talked about aliens and flashing lights down by the lake when the nurse came home late from work.

The woman, who at this time was regularly smoking marijuana, feared the aliens were "coming to get her".

But when Ms Bourke asked her why she was sitting there soaking wet, she would shut down and retreat to her bedroom.

Ms Bourke claimed the woman was also paranoid that people were listening to their conversations.

The woman would whisper for her to "shush" to stop people from hearing what they were saying.

On one occasion, the woman began singing a version of Aerosmith's song Janie's Got a Gun but substituted "Janey" with her own name when she heard the neighbours' young children playing outside.

"It was a bit concerning," Ms Bourke told the court.

Towards the end of 1997, Ms Bourke decided to ask the accused woman to leave her home.

"I felt uneasy," she said.

"She wasn't talking to me. I was leaving the house to go to work and wasn't coming home until late. I didn't know what was happening in my house."

Questioned by defence barrister Tim Gartelmann, SC, Ms Bourke said she did not believe the accused was joking when claiming aliens were coming to get her.

"No, I think she was quite serious," Ms Bourke said.

A previous witness said the accused woman talked about sacrificing a child to a motorcycle-riding "wolfman" and believed aliens were writing to her in glitter.

The trial continues.

AAP