A 43-year-old Hamilton woman faces charges of second degree murder and assault with a weapon after a stabbing death Saturday became the city's second homicide of the new year.

Hamilton stabbing

The murder suspect detained in a Hamilton Police car. (David Ritchie/CBC)

Around 8:30 p.m., police say a fight broke out on the 12th floor of an apartment building at 500 McNab Street North. Two men attacked one another and soon two women jumped in. One woman beat one of the men with a baseball bat before stabbing the other woman, 56, in the neck and chest. The victim later died in hospital. The 49-year-old male victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has been released. 

Hamilton police have not released the name of the victim as the family has not yet been notified.

The homicide was Hamilton's second in just five days after 23-year-old Marley Rowe was shot in the head and killed early New Year's Day. 

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact Detective Andrea Richard of the Homicide Unit at 905-546-4067 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.