Woman, 80, fights for life after alleged assault at Bankstown hospital

The man accused of strangling and slamming an 80-year-old woman into the wall of a hospital has faced court as she fights for life.

A woman is fighting for her life and her two daughters have been injured after a “senseless, unprovoked and seriously violent” ­assault in a Sydney hospital.

Police were called to Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital just before 3am on Thursday after ­reports a patient had been ­assaulted.

Officers were told that Richard Po Lim allegedly grabbed and assaulted two women, 63 and 58, in the hospital’s emergency room.

The 27-year-old man, who was a patient, then allegedly confronted and assaulted an 80-year-old woman, understood to be the mother of the two other women, police said.

Police further alleged the man then choked the woman and hit her head against the wall, causing her to lose consciousness.

A woman has allegedly been assaulted in the emergency room of Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

The Russell Lea man was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, intentionally choking someone with recklessness, choking someone with intent to commit an indictable offence, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The two latter charges related to his alleged actions toward the elderly woman.

Mr Lim did not apply for bail when he appeared via videolink at Parramatta Local Court on Friday. He sat silently, only speaking to request he be ­addressed by his middle name.

The furniture removalist will remain in custody until his next appearance at Burwood Local Court in February.

A hospital representative confirmed that the elderly woman remained in a critical condition. The two other women were discharged.

Originally published as Woman, 80, fights for life after alleged assault at Bankstown hospital