A 46-year-old woman has been charged with grievous bodily harm after allegedly attacking a man with a hammer while he lay in a hospital bed at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The victim, aged 63, is in a critical condition in intensive care.
Police allege Viki Graham struck the man on the right side of his head with a pink-handled hammer shortly after midnight on Thursday. The man suffered a skull fracture, bleeding on the brain and a seizure, and has been in hospital since January.
Graham was refused bail in a Sydney court on Thursday, where it was heard she claimed the victim had stolen her brother's ashes. She allegedly told police after her arrest, 'I smashed him with a hammer.'
According to the court, Graham ignored a nurse who told her visiting hours were over, entering the ward and saying she 'just wanted to talk to' the man. She then struck him before attempting to flee, but ward doors had been closed.
The Sydney Local Health District chief executive, Deb Willcox, said the hospital was an open public building accessible 24 hours a day, but the incident would be investigated to determine if improvements could be made. She praised staff for their swift response.
