Woman charged after sword attack on mother with baby

From CDC NEWS

A Saskatoon woman caring for her baby boy says she fought back with the only thing she had — a set of keys — when a woman with a sword attacked her on the street.

Melissa Nashacappo told CBC News she was attacked over the noon hour Thursday while walking home from a grocery store on 20th Street West on the city’s west side — and with her was her 14-month-old son Damien in a stroller.

As she walked by a house with its door open, a woman gave her a “dirty” look, then flashed an obscene hand gesture, Nashacappo said.

Seconds later, the woman came rushing out of the house with a sword, Nashacappo said.

“She was swinging the blade and I used my keys to protect me,” she said. “She was swinging it … and hit it four times on my head.”

After several hits with the flat side of the sword, it broke. There was some hair pulling and the two women rolled around the sidewalk.

Nashacappo said she tried to stay between the attacker and her son and she was successful — Damien wasn’t hurt.

She ended up with bruises on her head, and a cut on her finger where she was bitten. She was taken to hospital where she was treated and released.

According to police, the victim directed them to some suspects who were still in the area.

After a brief foot chase, a woman was arrested. A second suspect, a man, was later located at a nearby residence and taken into custody.

A woman, 28, has been charged with assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, possession of a controlled substance and three breaches of an undertaking.

A man, 31, was arrested with outstanding warrants for breach of a statutory release and breach of an undertaking, police said.