Staff member hospitalised after stabbing at Intercontinental hotel Sydney
A 30-year-old woman is in hospital after she was allegedly stabbed by a female co-worker at a luxury Sydney hotel on Saturday morning.
Police & Courts
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An employee at a luxury Sydney hotel has been charged with attempted murder after she allegedly stabbed her co-worker in the face, back and hands with a pair of scissors in what police have described as a “frenzied attack”.
Emergency services rushed to the Intercontinental by IHG in Sydney’s CBD around 2.20am, after panicked staff called police with reports of a serious assault on an employee.
Police arrived to find a 30-year-old woman with multiple, serious stab wounds to her upper body and hands, after her 31-year-old co-worker Crystel Shillingsworth attacked her in a back room behind the reception counter.
Another woman was also injured when she tried to stop Shillingsworth’s attack on the woman.
It’s understood each of the women worked in concierge roles at the Philip St hotel.
Sydney City Police Area Command’s Chief Inspector Gary Coffey said investigators were still working to determine what sparked the violent alleged outburst.
“We are unable to confirm the exact motive for this crime other than the fact all three persons involved are co-workers,” Sydney City Police Area Command’s Chief Inspector Gary Coffey said.
“This was a (frenzied) attack … We have to pay tribute to the co-workers who intervened because the situation could have been a lot worse than what it is.”
The injured woman remains in a serious condition and underwent surgery for her injuries at St Vincent’s Hospital on Saturday afternoon, according to Det. Insp. Coffey.
“It’s lucky things didn’t escalate worse than that,” he said.
Shillingsworth was arrested at the scene and taken to Day Street Police Station where she was charged with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
She was refused bail and is set to face court on Sunday.
“I’m not exactly sure of the circumstances that led up to this attack,” Det. Insp. Coffey said.
“But you would have to think there was some sort of dispute in the work environment … She was not at all known to police prior to this.”
He said the entire incident was captured on CCTV, which happened in a staff-only area.
A spokesman for the Intercontinental said staff were being supported following the horrific incident.
“An isolated staff incident took place at the InterContinental Sydney overnight,” a spokesman said.
“The incident remains an ongoing Police investigation so we’re unable to provide further details.”
“We are supporting our colleagues and the wider hotel team in whatever way we can at this difficult time.”
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