A woman who was lucky not to kill her neighbour in a sustained attack with a hammer had just been released from a psychiatric hospital against her will, a court heard.
Michaela Johnstone repeatedly battered the woman about the head with the weapon in a prolonged attack, even sitting astride her as she landed blows. Johnstone told a court she had warned health professionals not to send her home from hospital and claimed her pleas for help were met with suggestions she did some colouring in.
Soon after that she went to the victim's home in West Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, climbed through her window and launched a brutal attack with multiple blows to the head and face with the hammer. A judge said it was "a wonder" she didn't kill or seriously maim the victim.
