British man sentenced for hammer attack on GW student

WASHINGTON — A 46-year-old British man was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for attacking a George Washington University student with a hammer in a campus bathroom four years ago.

Prosecutors say in 2009 Mohammed Niazi entered a men’s bathroom in Duques Hall, an academic building on the 2200 block of G Street, and bludgeoned the victim on the back of the head with a metal hammer. The victim tried to defend himself and the attack moved into a foyer between a hallway and the bathroom, according to a Justice Department news release.

The victim stumbled out into the hallway where students rushed to his aid and Niazi fled.

Police identified Niazi through security video and credit card transaction records, but he bought a plane ticket to London and fled the country. He was caught in April of this year when he tried to travel through Panama, and was returned to the United States to face charges.

On April 4, 2013, Niazi was apprehended when he tried to travel through Panama. He was returned to the U.S. where he has been held in custody.

He was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury and carrying a dangerous weapon in August.

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