Man charged with samurai sword double murder attempt
A man appeared in court today charged with attempting to murder two people with a samurai sword in a seaside amusement arcade.
Thirty-five-year-old Jeffrey Stanley was remanded in custody when he appeared at Newtownards Magistrates Court in Co Down.
He was accused of attempting to murder the owner and a member of staff at the Kings and Queens amusement arcade in the seaside town of Newcastle, Co Down just before midnight on Sunday.
The unemployed defendant was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, the sword, and two counts of assaulting police officers.
Stanley lives at Main Street in the resort town, the same street the amusement arcade is located in.
One of his alleged victims, arcade employee David Alistair, who is in his 50s, suffered neck and arm wounds when struck by a samurai sword.
Arcade owner Patrick Maginn was attacked when he intervened and used a chair to protect his employee from further injury.
The accused was arrested by detectives in a car park in the town in the early hours of Monday morning.
A police witness told the court that when she charged Mr Stanley he replied no or not guilty to all charges.
Stanley was remanded in custody to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates Court in Co Down via video link on October 27.
