Police arrested a Roselands woman at Illawong yesterday following a vicious attack on an elderly woman in Sydney’s inner west.
A 92-year-old woman was left in a serious condition after she was allegedly stabbed and bashed by her house cleaner.
Police were called to the elderly woman's home on Holden Street in Ashbury about 10.45am on Wednesday after she activated her body-worn panic button.
When police arrived, the woman was bleeding heavily from her scalp and abdomen.
She was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, requiring surgery for trauma to her face and body as well as several stab wounds.
About 12.30pm the same day, police arrested a 35-year-old woman, Hanny Papanicolaou, in relation to the attack after pulling over a vehicle in Illawong.
She was taken to Sutherland Hospital for treatment of an ankle injury before being released into police custody and taken to Sutherland Police Station, where she was charged with attempted murder and wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
A neighbour who found the elderly woman said she was conscious and crying out for help.
“I went to the back of the house and I saw an old lady face down with blood on the back of her head," said the man, who didn't want to be named.
The neighbour said he saw a woman flee the property by jumping over a fence.
"It's a bit distressing knowing that something like that can happen," he said. "It's terrible — she's just an old lady. I don't know why you'd need to hurt her."
Burwood Police Area Commander, Superintendent David Johnson, said the elderly woman was stabbed a number of times and received very serious head injuries including several fractures.
She is currently in an induced coma after undergoing surgery for those injuries.
Superintendent Johnson said the elderly victim who was living alone was wearing a personal body-worn duress alarm.
“The activation of this alarm after the incident caused an immediate police response,” he said. “I’m sure that device assisted to save the victim’s life.”
Superintendent Johnson said at this stage the motive for the attack was unclear and investigations were continuing.
“All I can say is that the alleged offender was known to the victim,was in the employ of the victim and had been for some time and so the motive is not yet clear.”
Superintendent Johnson thanked the elderly woman’s neighbour for investigating after hearing the 92-year-old’s cries for help.
“I’d like to thank [him] for looking after their elderly neighbour and going to that person’s aid.”
Ms Papanicolaou did not apply for bail at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday and it was formally refused. .