West Belfast stabbing: Man jailed over Lenadoon attack

Accused told mother of attack and was put out of house, court hears

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A Belfast man who stabbed a male in the back with a kitchen knife was today (Thursday) jailed for six years.

James Murray, 22, of Finn House in the north of the city, had previously pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon with intent to wound and cause criminal damage.

A charge of attempted murder was left on the court books in the usual terms.

It was the prosecution case that on July 31, 2021, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a call around 6 pm to attend Corrib Avenue in West Belfast.

Prosecution counsel Kate McKay said the victim told paramedics that he had been sitting on a kerb talking to friends when he heard someone call out his nickname.

"One of his female friends saw a male standing behind him, striking out and stabbing him twice in the back," said Mrs McKay.

"There had been an earlier incident between the two males around 3 pm which had ended when the brother and father of the victim became involved. At that point, the defendant threatened to stab his victim."

Judge Donna McColgan KC heard that the injured male was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he was treated for two stab wounds to his back, including a "deep wound to his clavicle".

The prosecutor said the victim required surgery and had to stay in hospital for six days.

"Following the attack, the defendant made his way to his mother's house. He told her he had stabbed someone and produced a knife from under his coat.

"His mother put him out of the house and contacted police. He then broke the outer pane of glass in her front door and this was all captured on her ring door bell," added Mrs McKay.

During police interviews, Murray denied fighting with the victim earlier in the day before stabbing him. He also denied possessing a knife and breaking the glass pane.

Mrs McKay said that the aggravating factors were that this was an unprovoked attack and a weapon was used, the defendant was under the influence of drugs and he had a relevant criminal record.

A pre-sentence report assessed Murray as a high likelihood of reoffending and he also posed a danger to the public in the future. Defence counsel Greg Berry KC urged the court to consider the youth and personal circumstances of Murray.

"He is now 22 years old and was 20 at the time of the commission of these offences. He witnessed a significant amount of domestic abuse as a child and had a troubled up bringing," said Mr Berry.

"He doesn't have a formal diagnosis of a mental health condition but he has in the past experienced suicidal thoughts and poor sleep patterns. He has also engaged with the community mental health team on an off for many years."

Judge McColgan said: "In this case, the defendant attacked his victim from behind with a knife and that brings this case into the higher culpability range with the harm caused in the medium range."

The judge told Murray that had he contested the charges and been found guilty by a jury, she would have sentenced him to nine years in prison.

Judge McColgan added that after taking his youth, his personal circumstances and his guilty pleas into account, she would reduce the sentence to one of six years with an extension to his licence period of two years.

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