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London hotel hammer attack victim 'lost part of brain' London hotel hammer attack victim 'lost part of brain'
(about 1 hour later)
A woman who was attacked with a claw hammer at a four-star hotel in central London "lost part of her brain", a court has heard. A woman who was attacked with a claw hammer at a central London hotel "lost part of her brain", a court has heard.
The victim and her two sisters were set upon at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch on 6 April.The victim and her two sisters were set upon at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch on 6 April.
Philip Spence, 32, admitted three counts of grievous bodily harm at Southwark Crown Court. He denies attempted murder.Philip Spence, 32, admitted three counts of grievous bodily harm at Southwark Crown Court. He denies attempted murder.
Mr Spence, from Harlesden, also denies a charge of aggravated burglary.Mr Spence, from Harlesden, also denies a charge of aggravated burglary.
Prosecutor Simon Mayo said Mr Spence bludgeoned one sister with such force, her skull was split open. 'Split skull'
The court heard the woman's nine-year-old nephew hid under the sheets next to her. Ohoud Al-Najjar, Khulood Al-Najjar and Fatima Al-Najjar, from the United Arab Emirates, were on a family holiday when they were subjected to a "sustained and vicious" assault, prosecutor Simon Mayo QC said.
"The women suffered terrible injuries; one even lost part of her brain," he said. Mr Mayo said Mr Spence bludgeoned Ohoud with such force, her skull was split open.
The court heard her nine-year-old nephew hid under the sheets next to her.
"The women suffered terrible injuries; one even lost part of her brain," the prosecutor said.
The sisters were sharing adjoining rooms at the four-star hotel.
Repeatedly struck
The court heard the rooms had been left unlocked to allow a fourth sister to return later in the night, but Mr Spence was seen by Khulood rifling through handbags at about 01:30 BST.
He attacked Khulood in the bed she was sharing a bed with her 11-year-old daughter and her sister Fatima. Khulood's seven-year-old daughter was also asleep on the floor, the jury heard.
"It is almost impossible to imagine the terror that must have seized these poor women as they were confronted in the darkness of their room by Philip Spence wielding that claw hammer," Mr Mayo said.
"Worse still when he began to rain blows down on their heads."
Fatima tried to stop the attack but she was struck repeatedly and both sisters were left unconscious, the court heard.
The case continues.The case continues.