The mother of an accused child sex offender who was shot dead after stabbing a policeman in Sydney says she's sorry for her son's actions.
Nick Newman, 33, was shot dead by police in a Maroubra pub on Friday after he stabbed a policeman who was trying to arrest him in the chest and stomach.
Newman's mother, Alicia, says she hopes her son's victim, Detective Sergeant John Breda, recovers.
Ms Newman said her son had battled mental illness for 20 years.
"Since he was 13 years old I struggled with him," she said.
Newman was wanted on an arrest warrant for child sex offences to a person known to him.
He stabbed Det Sgt Breda twice before being gunned down by two other officers at the Maroubra Junction Hotel.
Det Sgt Breda, 45, was taken to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition where he underwent emergency surgery.
Police on Monday afternoon said while Det Sgt Breda's condition "continued to improve" he was still listed as serious but stable.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her thoughts and prayers were with Det Sgt Breda and his family.
"The police force has my full confidence in terms of getting to the bottom of what occurred and hopefully we get some positive news in regards to the policeman's recovery," she told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
NSW Police Minister Troy Grant drove to Sydney from Dubbo overnight after hearing about the incident and visited the hospital on Saturday.
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