Masked attacker 'tried to kill woman'

A MASKED man "chased down" a woman and tried to kill her in a "frenzied" attack in which he rained blows on her head with a hammer, a jury was told.

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

CCTV footage shown at Nottingham Crown Court showed a man the prosecution claim is Julian Meads run after Natalie Packer before repeatedly striking her with a weapon he had deliberately taken to the scene, the crown says.

While he struck her time and time again for two minutes, a second man, who has never been identified, held back the victim's partner before breaking into her home and stealing her pet dog, the court heard.

Miss Packer suffered fractures to her skull, face and shoulder blade and three broken ribs among multiple injuries.

Mead, 41, of Welstead Avenue, Aspley, is on trial for attempted murder, an alternative count of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and burglary. He pleads not guilty to all of the charges, saying the man in the footage is not him.

Opening the case, Andy Peet, prosecuting, said the attack happened on October 1 last year.

He said: "At about 9.20pm to 9.25pm, it was dark and wet and Natalie Packer left her front door with a friend, Chris Humphrey.