London hammer attack on UAE sisters: Co-accused accused skips court date

London: Trial proceedings weighing attempted murder charges in connection with a vicious April 6 hammer assault on three Emirati sisters in a London hotel were remanded on Tuesday after the defendant’s co-accused claimed to have taken ill.

Philip Spence, 32, dealt at least 13 blows to the defenceless women in front of their children at the Cumberland Hotel near Marble Arch, central London.

Khulood, 36, and her sisters, Ohoud, 34, and Fatima, 31, suffered crushed skulls and life-threatening injuries after Spence raided their hotel room, beat them about the head with a hammer and then robbed them of cash and valuables.

He fled the scene with a stolen suitcase crammed with precious items including a white Cartier diamond-encrusted watch worth £12,000 (Dh70,250) and Louis Vuitton jewellery.

Spence made his way to co-defendant Neofitos ‘Thomas’ Efremi’s north London flat with the ransacked goods, Southwark Crown Court has heard.

Efremi has confessed to making ten withdrawals totalling £5,000 using stolen bank cards belonging to youngest victim Fatima.

Efremi did not appear in the dock alongside Spence who was due to continue giving evidence.

The former crack and heroin addict admitted he had a ‘temper’ but said he had never received help for his anger management issues.

Jurors were today told Efremi, 57, was unexpectedly ill and would not be able to attend the trial.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC said: ‘You will notice that Mr Efremi is not with us in court.

“That is because he has been taken ill this morning and we don’t know at the moment how serious that is or what will be the effect of it in relation to delay.”

Later he told jurors it was “clear” that Efremi would not be able to attend court and adjourned the trial until tomorrow.

Spence initially denied the savage attacks on the women who were visiting the capital from the United Arab Emirates but confessed in the face of “overwhelming evidence”.

He was part way through giving evidence from the witness stand when the trial was unexpectedly halted.

Spence, of 34, Abbeyfields Close, Alperton, northwest London, admits three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of aggravated burglary.

But he denies three counts of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.

Efremi, of 22, Upper Handa Walk, Islington, north London, denies conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.

He has admitted a single count of fraud..

James Moss, 33, of Hanley Road, Stroud Green, north London, has admitted handling stolen goods including mobile phones, handbags and jewellery.

He will be sentenced later.

Rachel Mountain is a freelance journalist based in London.