Man, 43, is charged with attempted murder over horrific attack on great grandmother, 84, inside her nursing home as she returned from buying flowers
A man has been charged with attempted murder after an 84-year-old great-grandmother was allegedly bashed within an inch of her life by a stranger in her home.
Patricia, who recently lost her husband, was allegedly assaulted in her bedroom at Huon Park retirement village in North Turramurra, Sydney on 16 November at 12.30pm.
She had just returned home after buying flowers and fresh fruit to spruce up her apartment.
The man will face Horsby Court today.
Patricia (pictured) was allegedly bashed within an inch of her life when she got home
Two weeks ago Patricia’s daughter Caroline appealed to the alleged attacker to turn himself in to police, and said her mother is in a ‘bad way’.
‘I feel so sad that my mum, who is 84, who’s just lost her husband, is now in a position where she just doesn’t want to be in this world anymore because she just feels so unsafe,’ she said during a press conference.
‘As you can imagine, this has been a very, very shocking and distressing event in our family.
‘This should never ever happen to the most vulnerable of vulnerable in our community.’
The alleged attack, described by police as ‘appalling and cowardly’, came soon after Patricia returned from a holiday with her daughters and granddaughters.
Patricia, 84, had just returned home to the Huon Park retirement village after buying flowers and fresh fruit to spruce up her apartment (pictured)
She and her family spent time at the Northern Lights in Finland before visiting her sister in Austria, and finishing the dream trip in London.
She had only been living in the retirement village for six weeks, and had only spent three weeks there due to her overseas travel.
Caroline described her mother as a ‘very eloquent, proud, wonderful human being’ who loved spending time with her family.
After the alleged attack, Patricia was taken to Sydney Adventist Hospital in Wahroonga where she had treatment for injuries to her face, chest and arm.
Before police caught the suspect, they appealed for information, describing him as 30 and 50, between 175 and 180cm tall and possibly of Asian or Indian sub-continental appearance.
Police are seen talking to residents as they investigate the incident that saw Patricia end up in hospital