A man accused of severely assaulting six hospital staff and members of the public with a metal bar claimed his neighbor spiked his orange juice, a court has heard. Omar Momand, 20, is on trial for a series of serious assaults that occurred on December 30 of last year at Newton Community Hospital in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside.
Prosecutors allege that Momand was in a "psychotic episode" during the attacks, during which he used a metal bar to strike several individuals, leaving the weapon bent. "He accepts that he caused the injuries to each of the people," prosecuting barrister Jamie Baxter told the jury. "The single question that you are here to decide is whether, when he did what he did, he intended to cause those people grievous bodily harm."
Momand's defense states that he had consumed orange juice the previous evening, which he believed had been poisoned by a neighbor. He reported feeling confused afterward and claimed to have no memory of the events at the hospital, believing he may have been drugged.
CCTV footage showed Momand arriving at the hospital shortly after leaving his home. He initially sought an appointment at a GP surgery within the hospital but was turned away. According to the prosecution, he became increasingly agitated on the premises before launching his attacks approximately 90 minutes later.
During the assault, one hospital worker, Megan Lynch, was struck on the head from behind while standing at a vending machine. She managed to escape and barricade herself in a bathroom, sustaining injuries to her scalp, head, shoulder, and hand. Receptionist Jeanette Jones was also struck on the head, elbow, and back while attempting to flee, later barricading herself in the outpatients department with swelling and bruising to her head.
Momand allegedly proceeded to damage reception desk and computer equipment before pursuing other staff members who locked themselves in a room. He later returned upstairs and attempted to force his way into another locked room.
Three other hospital staff members, Ian McGurk, Eleni Tsikoua, and Michelle Stewart, who were returning from lunch, were allegedly attacked. McGurk sustained cuts to his eyebrow and ear, while Tsikoua had a significant cut to the back of her head. Jones was allegedly struck twice more by Momand before Stewart was attacked from behind and hit multiple times on the head while on the ground, suffering a "significant head injury."
The sixth victim, a pharmacy assistant, was hit on the leg with the metal bar. The incident concluded when a member of the public intervened, armed with a golf club, and police, alerted to the scene, arrived with a police dog.
Momand denies four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial is ongoing.