Woman in critical condition after beating

A 45-year-old woman was in critical condition at Temple University Hospital after a man repeatedly hit her in the head with a hammer yesterday at a North Philadelphia home, police said.

A department spokesman said the man and woman had been using drugs before the assault in the 900 block of East Woodlawn Avenue. The man was arrested shortly after the attack, the spokesman said.

Police did not immediately release the name of the victim or the accused assailant.    - Mark Fazlollah