Man appears in court over alleged Whitehaven stabbing

A man facing wounding and knife possession charges following an alleged incident involving a neighbour in Whitehaven has appeared in court.

Cumbria police stated earlier this week that officers had responded on Tuesday afternoon "to a report of a man having been stabbed at Brakeside Gardens" in the town.

61-year-old Gerard Martin Murphy appeared at North and West Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Carlisle. Murphy, who gave his address as Brakeside Gardens in Whitehaven, faces three charges.

One alleges that he attempted to unlawfully and maliciously wound a male neighbour - with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

Another alleges that he assaulted the same man, causing him actual bodily harm. And a third charge alleges the possession by Murphy of a bladed article - a black-handled knife - in public, at Brakeside Gardens.

During a 15-minute court hearing before District Judge Gerard Chalk, Murphy listened from the dock as prosecutor Andy Travis gave a brief outline of the alleged events on May 23.

Bespectacled, bearded and wearing a dark suit, Murphy entered no pleas to any of the charges faced, at the request of his lawyer, Mike Pope.

Murphy's case was committed to Carlisle Crown Court, where he is due to appear on June 24. In the meantime he was remanded in custody.

Police issued a witness appeal following Tuesday's incident, and had also stated that a 43-year-old man had been flown by air ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle."