A 'delirious' woman who killed an 83-year-old patient on a hospital ward by repeatedly banging her head on the floor has been jailed. Philomena Wilson, 56, launched the frenzied attack as the frail grandmother was being helped to the toilet by nurses.
A court heard Wilson, who was also a patient, slammed Vidya Kaur's head on the ground at least five times during the "vicious" assault on January 22, 2021. Wilson then kicked a nurse before going on to attack another patient and a health care assistant before security personnel arrived on the ward.
Mrs Kaur sustained serious head injuries, including a fractured skull, which contributed to her death three weeks later on February 11. Wilson had been admitted to at Birmingham's City Hospital after being arrested for assault and wounding and initially claimed to have no memory of the events that morning.
But she later pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in April. On Friday she was jailed for seven years at Birmingham Crown Court and will spend a further five years on licence.
Sentencing, Judge Melbourne Inman KC said: "Vidya was receiving treatment in the City Hospital when you attacked her. Vidya was obviously very elderly, she was frail, of slight build and in poor health. You, having been arrested because of concerns regarding your mental health, were admitted to the City hospital and transferred to ward D26, where Vidya was also being treated."
Before the assault he said she was heard to shout "get your f**king hands off her" and went on to say that it "was a vicious attack on a helpless woman. I am satisfied at the time of the attack your intention was to kill". The judge said Wilson, of Handsworth, Birmingham, had been suffering from a temporary delirium most likely linked to her abuse of drugs and alcohol.
He added: "It was an acute episode that was unforeseeable to anyone at that time."
Michael Burrows KC, prosecuting, said thuds could be heard as Wilson shoved the victim's head down on the ground several times.
He told the court: "In the early hours of the morning a nurse at the City Hospital was guiding an elderly person to the toilet. Philomena Wilson was a patient on the same ward. She got out of bed and attacked her.
"She tried to push the nurse away from Mrs Kaur and then pushed Mrs Kaur so she fell face forward on to the floor. She kicked the nurse and then began hitting her head down on the floor a number of times.
"Another patient and a health care assistant intervened and Wilson assaulted them as well. Eventually security guards attended and Wilson was taken back to her bed.
"Experts agree that Wilson was suffering from an acute mental disorder at the time of the offence. Despite having a mental disorder, she knew what she was doing.
"She attacked both the nurse and Mrs Kaur. Mrs Kaur offered no resistance. After falling to the floor, she was probably unconscious, but Wilson continued to attack her and tried to get at her even when being restrained."
In statements, Mrs Kaur's grandchildren paid tribute to "a kind-hearted woman" and described the anguish of seeing their grandmother "helpless and unrecognisable" following the attack.
Michelle Heeley KC, mitigating, said: "She is deeply remorseful for what happened at a time when she was severely mentally unwell. She did not know she was mentally unwell. It was a case of intending to cause serious harm as opposed to an intention to kill."
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, of West Midlands Police, said: “Our thoughts remain with the elderly lady’s family after losing their loved one in such terrible circumstances. They have had to wait many months for justice and I hope this finally brings them some closure.”
