No-one can explain what set off Merlyn Van Eeken on February 19, but the incident has devastated the two victims and left them living in fear.

The daughter says she will never forget the look of terror on her mother’s face as she walked into their Orwell Street home in Wangaratta.

Van Eeken, 19, had been invited into the house, took off his shoes, had a drink of water, and choked her mother out before dragging her into the laundry room.

The Boweya North resident positioned himself in the daughter’s bedroom and waited for her.

The mother awoke and triple zero was called and Van Eeken fled the scene.

He was arrested at a friend’s home on Woodland Grove about four hours after the incident, and admitted to the police he wanted to hold the younger woman ransom and ask for $5000 for her return.

Van Eeken had watched a movie with similar themes a week earlier. 

The teenager had gone to school with the daughter but they didn’t know each other particularly well.

The Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Thursday heard he had planned to travel interstate with a mate and start a new life, but hadn’t thought out the plan particularly well.

Both women told of the devastation caused by Van Eeken, who kept his head bowed during the court proceedings, flanked by his mum and stepdad. 

“Seeing my mother in the state she was in, I will never forget, and it will haunt me for the rest of my life,” the daughter said through a victim impact statement.

“Why did you target me and my family?”

Prosecutors are not seeking an immediate jail term, which magistrate Stella Stuthridge said she felt “anxious about”. 

“I cannot imagine how aghast this family must be,” she said. 

Ms Stuthridge was also concerned that there was “no real explanation” for what occurred and wondered if there was more going on in his head than he was letting on. 

Lawyer Geoff Clancy said it appeared he had “snapped”. 

“It kind of doesn't make sense,” the magistrate said. 

Mr Clancy said it was “bizarre”. 

He will return to court in Wodonga on August 9. 

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