Belfast victim lost eye and suspect said ‘I’ve killed someone’, court told
By Gráinne Ní Aodha and David Young, Press Association
The victim of the Belfast stabbing lost an eye, and his alleged attacker told hospital staff “I’ve killed someone”, a court heard.
Hadi Alodid, 30, of Duncairn Avenue in Belfast, appeared before the city’s magistrates’ court on Wednesday charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, threatening to kill an NHS radiographer and with possession of a knife.
Alodid refused legal representation and made no reply to charges which were put to him through an Arabic interpreter.
When asked if he wished to apply for bail, he indicated he did, to which police “strongly” objected.
A detective told the court the victim had lost his left eye and received deep cuts to his head, face and back.
She said police received a report of a serious assault in the Kinnaird Avenue area at 10.30pm on Monday.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the defendant armed with a knife and removed him from on top of the victim.
She also told the court the defendant said “I’ve killed someone, I don’t know if they are dead” while in hospital receiving treatment for a hand injury, and told medical staff “I will kill you”.
The detective told the court there was a fear his release would lead to “significant public disorder” due to “strong public feeling” about the incident.
She said Alodid is charged with an “extremely serious offence” that has “garnered serious media attention”, and if further offences were committed they would be “serious and unpredictable in nature”.
She also indicated there is a flight risk as the defendant is from Sudan and has links outside of the jurisdiction, and he may fear for his own safety or fear a possible long custodial sentence in Northern Ireland.
The defendant made no reply.
Judge Stephen Keown said the risks of release were “far too great” and would be “unmanageable by any bail conditions”.
He refused bail due to the risk of reoffending, risk of harm to the public, risk of public disorder and risk of flight.
He remanded Alodid in custody for four weeks until Wednesday July 8, when he is due to appear by video-link.
The district judge then issued a warning to young men asked to take to the streets later on Wednesday that they could face prison time if they take part in attacks on the community.
Judge Keown warned that anyone who plans to take part in further disorder in Northern Ireland should “be prepared to go to prison” and said the courts “won’t tolerate” any attacks on emergency services.
The district judge said the court’s thoughts were with the victim, the members of the public who intervened and the emergency services who went to the victim’s aid.
He said those members of the public, the police and the emergency services who intervened should be commended.
He said emergency services who had helped the victim now coming “under attack is something the courts won’t tolerate”.
He noted there is a call on social media for men aged over 18 to close streets, wear dark clothes, be prepared to fight and be arrested.
He said anyone involved in attacks on the community and members of the community can “also expect to go to prison, and that message should be sent out loud and clear”.
