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London hotel hammer attack victim skull 'cracked like an egg' | London hotel hammer attack victim skull 'cracked like an egg' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A woman attacked in a hotel with a claw hammer had her skull "cracked like an egg", a court has heard. | |
Ohoud Al-Najjar and her two sisters were set upon at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch, London, on 6 April, with children sleeping beside them. | Ohoud Al-Najjar and her two sisters were set upon at the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch, London, on 6 April, with children sleeping beside them. |
Paramedic Joanna Griffin told Southwark Crown Court she had never seen "such excessive violence used before". | Paramedic Joanna Griffin told Southwark Crown Court she had never seen "such excessive violence used before". |
Philip Spence, 32, has admitted three counts of grievous bodily harm. He denies attempted murder. | Philip Spence, 32, has admitted three counts of grievous bodily harm. He denies attempted murder. |
Mr Spence, from Harlesden, has also admitted one charge of aggravated burglary. | |
Part of brain | Part of brain |
Sisters 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 "vicious and sustained" attack, the court was told. | Sisters 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 "vicious and sustained" attack, the court was told. |
Mr Spence bludgeoned Ohoud with such force, her skull was split open and she lost part of her brain, the prosecution said. | Mr Spence bludgeoned Ohoud with such force, her skull was split open and she lost part of her brain, the prosecution said. |
Ms Griffin, from the London Ambulance Service, was one of the first paramedics to arrive at the scene. | Ms Griffin, from the London Ambulance Service, was one of the first paramedics to arrive at the scene. |
She described to the jury how Ohoud's skull had been "cracked like an egg" in the attack. | She described to the jury how Ohoud's skull had been "cracked like an egg" in the attack. |
"I've been to a lot of incidents where violence has been used, fights, stabbings, shootings, but I've never seen a trauma like that before," she added. | "I've been to a lot of incidents where violence has been used, fights, stabbings, shootings, but I've never seen a trauma like that before," she added. |
After the attack Ohoud underwent emergency neurosurgery to reconstruct her skull and her left eyeball was removed. She can no longer speak and is not expected to make a full recovery. | After the attack Ohoud underwent emergency neurosurgery to reconstruct her skull and her left eyeball was removed. She can no longer speak and is not expected to make a full recovery. |
'Thought she was dead' | 'Thought she was dead' |
In court, the younger half-sister of the three women also gave evidence, describing how she found the sisters in the room with "blood everywhere". | In court, the younger half-sister of the three women also gave evidence, describing how she found the sisters in the room with "blood everywhere". |
Sheika Al-Mheiri missed the attack by minutes as she went to visit her brother who was staying on another floor in the four-star hotel. | Sheika Al-Mheiri missed the attack by minutes as she went to visit her brother who was staying on another floor in the four-star hotel. |
"I saw the blood... Then I saw her (Ohoud's) head. Half of her head was damaged, I thought she was dead," she said via video link from Abu Dhabi. | "I saw the blood... Then I saw her (Ohoud's) head. Half of her head was damaged, I thought she was dead," she said via video link from Abu Dhabi. |
"There was blood everywhere, so I took the kids out," she added. | "There was blood everywhere, so I took the kids out," she added. |
The women had been sharing the room with Khulood's two daughters, aged 11 and seven, and her nine-year-old son. | |
The court also heard Mr Spence fled the room with a suitcase containing valuables, including iPads, jewellery and £1,500 in cash. | The court also heard Mr Spence fled the room with a suitcase containing valuables, including iPads, jewellery and £1,500 in cash. |
Mr Spence is alleged to have planned the attack in the early hours of 6 April with Thomas Efremi, 57, from Islington, north London. Mr Efremi denies conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. | Mr Spence is alleged to have planned the attack in the early hours of 6 April with Thomas Efremi, 57, from Islington, north London. Mr Efremi denies conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |
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