Wigan attempted murder victim staggered into the street with a knife in her neck

Awa Zongo launched what police described as a “frenzied attack” on Asam Panahandeh with a knife, the last blow from which embedded itself in the terrified victim’s neck and missed lethally severing a main artery by only millimetres, Manchester Crown Court heard.

A judge was told that onlookers were greeted by a scene of total horror as both victim and attacker came out onto Atherton Road, Hindley, from a house where asylum-seekers live drenched in blood.

A barefoot Ms Panahandeh could be seen with the hilt of the knife jutting from her neck before she collapsed and the weapon was left in situ until she could receive treatment in hospital.

The catalogue of the 39-year-old’s injuries was truly shocking: some three dozen stab wounds to her neck, chest, stomach and thighs.

The pan of scalding water itself caused burns to face, left shoulder, arm and back, and covered up to 20 per cent of her body surface area.

And the surgeon who operated upon her to remove the blade said that she would likely have died if the final wound had cut through her carotid artery but thankfully the blow missed it by a fraction.

The violence erupted on the morning of December 14 last year during a row between the two women and 28-year-old Zongo herself needed hospital treatment for minor injuries after her victim fought back.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene between 10.20am and 10.40am and a neighbour saw the defendant place herself on the floor before the ambulance arrived.

Zongo, of Atherton Road, Hindley, admitted the attack on her housemate during police interview and she was charged with attempted murder.

Shortly after the attack, locals spoke of their shock at the incident.

One Atherton Road resident said: “My daughter saw some of what happened when she was driving in her car.

“She said a young woman ran from behind the community centre. She was bare-footed and covered in blood.

“She had a knife stuck in her neck and then collapsed. Lots of people were stopping to help her.”

James Palmer, 32, also of Atherton Road, added: “It’s a sleepy village and a massive shock what has happened.”

Zongo was remanded in custody pending her sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on August 21.