Enniskillen Court House
A 56-year-old man accused of assaulting and threatening to kill his partner at the weekend has been remanded in custody.
Lee Patterson of Crevenish Park in Kesh appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday to face three charges against the woman of assault causing harm, making a threat to kill her and causing criminal damage to a speaker belonging to her on Saturday last, November 11th.
Police outlined that the injured party had made a 999 call at 11.38pm on the night to say that she had been assaulted by Patterson.
The woman allegedly sustained a gash to the side of the head and had been punched and kicked.”
A police spokesman told the court that the woman told them: “He doesn’t like me and wants to kill me”, adding that she was afraid of the defendant: “If he goes near me, I’ll end up dead.”
The court heard that when Patterson was interviewed by police, he denied that anything had happened and it was also outlined that alcohol was a factor in the relationship.
Police objected to bail given the “extensive domestic history”, likelihood of reoffending and witness interference.
Defence solicitor Gary Black said his client had previously been admitted to bail and adhered to the conditions.
He added that the injured party had made a number of past complaints against his client but then declined to make a statement.
He also stated that when police attended the scene of the alleged incident “nothing was in disarray”.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said he was concerned by the “sheer volume and serious nature” of reported domestic violence incidents “dating back over a considerable period of time”.
“Sadly the pattern is common that a vulnerable person is unable to physically come to court to give evidence,” the judge said and added that he was satisfied with the evidence to proceed with the case.
Patterson was remanded in custody to appear via videolink in court again on December 11th.
The judge also ordered that there be no contact between the defendant and alleged injured party.
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