A 95-year-old nursing home resident accused of killing her roommate, an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor, appeared in court Wednesday as prosecutors revealed disturbing new details about the crime, as reported by The New York Post.

Galina Smirnova, who prosecutors say suffers from dementia, was wheeled into a Brooklyn courtroom and charged with murder and weapons possession in the death of Nina Kravtsov. Smirnova has been ordered held at the Bellevue Hospital jail ward pending her next hearing.

According to Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg, Kravtsov was found bludgeoned inside her room at the Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Coney Island late Sunday night. Prosecutors allege Smirnova used a wheelchair pedal as the weapon.

“The nursing assistant observed the victim laying on her bed with severe head injuries,” Rottenberg told the court.

“There was blood all over the room, and the victim or defendant was not responsive. The defendant was in the bathroom, washing her hands in the sink. There was blood on her gown and her legs.”

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Do you think we should keep sending the National Guard into cities where crime is out of control?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

Investigators discovered that both pedals had been removed from Smirnova’s wheelchair. One pedal, covered in blood, was found on the floor near the bed, while the other had been thrown out the window.

Rottenberg said Smirnova had only arrived at the facility on Friday and was placed in the same room as Kravtsov. A nurse testified that she had last seen Kravtsov asleep at 8:55 p.m.

Sunday, but when she returned an hour later, she found the room covered in blood and Kravtsov unresponsive with a severe head wound.

Kravtsov was rushed to NYU Langone Brooklyn Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 5:30 a.m. Monday.

Kravtsov’s daughter, Lucy Flom, told The New York Post that her mother was five years old when she lost her entire family during the Holocaust.

She later became a nurse in Ukraine before moving to the United States, eventually settling in Brighton Beach with her husband. After his passing, she entered the nursing home.

“She sacrificed a lot,” Flom said. “She was a single mom. She had me when she was 18. She came here to give me a good education. She was a very dedicated mother … very loving, caring, devoted.”

Smirnova’s attorney, Erin Darcy of the Legal Aid Society, did not request bail at Wednesday’s hearing but indicated she may do so once “a reasonable placement” can be found for her client. Darcy emphasized her client’s age and medical condition.

Prosecutors requested Smirnova be held without bail. Judge Orville Reynolds denied a defense request for a psychiatric evaluation, calling it premature, and scheduled the next court appearance for Friday.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.