Belfast man accused of trying to kill woman with hatchet

The incident happened in Montrose Street in east Belfast on 29 February, the court heard

A Belfast man allegedly tried to kill a woman with a hatchet he described as a Valentine's gift, a court has heard.

Stephen Kennedy, 42, is accused of inflicting deep wounds to the woman's head during an attack at his apartment.

Mr Kennedy, of Montrose Street in Belfast, denies a charge of attempted murder, claiming the woman came into contact with the axe by accident.

He was refused bail by a judge who described his version of events as "risible".

Police and paramedics attended Mr Kennedy's flat in east Belfast following a 999 call on 29 February, the High Court heard on Wednesday.

Mr Kennedy said the woman had suffered head injuries and was drifting in and out of consciousness after falling onto a hatchet in the property.

The court heard that when emergency services arrived at the scene, Mr Kennedy was standing outside the apartment block, bare chested and with blood smeared over his face, hands and back.

Officers found the woman in a communal area with strike marks on her body and two deep, open wounds to her head.

"They gave the impression of having been caused by a bladed weapon," a prosecution barrister said.

Broken dentures

Significant amounts of blood were discovered in a lift, stairwell and on the corridor leading from Mr Kennedy's flat, the court heard.

Further spatters and a bloodied mop and bucket were detected inside the apartment, where a washing machine was operating.

"A small axe and scissors were located, alongside broken dentures and clumps of hair," the barrister added.

Mr Kennedy denied any intimate relationship with the woman, insisting she was just a friend staying with him while in Belfast for a hospital appointment.

He claimed she had knocked over furniture during an argument, causing the axe to flip into the air and strike her on its descent.

"He said the hatchet was a gift from his partner on Valentine's Day," the prosecutor said.

The woman sustained a number of fractures to her head and required nine stitches for two lacerations.

According to her account, she had been in a relationship with Mr Kennedy for two-and-a-half years.

Mr Kennedy faces a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon with intent to commit attempted murder.

A defence lawyer described his client as someone who "keeps himself to himself".

"He is adamant that he does not have a romantic relationship with the injured party, they have just been friends for 15 years," he added.

"There has never been any issue between them, never mind anything remotely resembling what has been described."

Denying bail to Mr Kennedy, the judge cited the risk of re-offending.

"He is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but the explanation put forward by him is risible," the judge added.