Man on murder bid charge accused of witness threats
One of three men accused of attempting to murder a 14-year-old boy also faced charges of threatening two female witnesses, a court in Northern Ireland heard today.
Mark Payne, a 22-year-old unemployed man, from Callan Way, Belfast, faces a total of seven charges including attempting to murder Andrew Moss at the weekend.
Two other Belfast men, Terence Morrison, 18, a soldier from Grillagh Way, and Kyle Rudd, 18, unemployed, from Flush Green, also appeared in Belfast Magistrates Court on charges of attempted murder.
The teenager was seriously injured after he was stabbed numerous times at a derelict pavilion in playing fields in the east of the city early on Saturday.
He remains in a serious condition in hospital after emergency surgery for knife wounds in is stomach, chest and leg.
Payne was also charged with intimidation of two witnesses, stealing a kitchen knife, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place in connection with a burglary, and entering as a trespasser Grosvenor Rugby Club with the intention of inflicting grievous bodily harm against another man, Paul Moss.
A detective constable told the court that when he put the charges to Payne at Antrim police station on Monday night, the defendant replied: “No comment.”
When the charges were put to Rudd he replied: “Not guilty. I did not touch him.”
Morrison said: “I didn’t attempt to murder no one but I did assault him.”
The police officer said he believed he could connect all three with the crime.
The defendants were remanded in custody to appear in court by video link on December 7.
A solicitor representing Payne and Rudd told the court that they had made no admission of guilt during police interviews.
