Man 64, appears in court accused of stabbing neighbour after dispute in north Belfast
A 64-year-old man allegedly stabbed his neighbour up to five times as part of an escalating dispute in north Belfast, a court heard on Tuesday.
He appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court to face charges of attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon with intent.
Police attended the scene after Cull made a 999 call to claim the stab victim sustained injuries while attacking him.
The other man, also in his 60s, was discovered lying on the footpath between their houses, surrounded by members of the public providing first aid.
An investigating detective disclosed: “He had suffered four to five stab wounds, with his insides protruding from his chest.”
The victim remains in hospital, although his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“He has penetrating wounds to his liver and spleen,” the detective added.
When Cull was arrested he claimed the encounter was part of a wider series of incidents.
The court heard he told police: “It’s not every day that I stab someone.
“I have been tortured for two and a half years by the guy next door, he just drove me to it tonight.”
He also made three previous reports to police, alleging that he had been subjected to harassing behaviour and threats.
Opposing his application for bail, the detective claimed: “This is a clear escalation in a dispute (between neighbours).”
A defence barrister stressed that Cull claims he was attacked immediately before the alleged stabbing.
“In the course of that the knife fell on the ground, he picked it up and it ended up going into the complainant,” he said.
In response, District Judge Steven Keown queried: “Four or five times?”
He was told that Cull also phoned for an ambulance and directed police to the location of the blade.
“At interview he said that he did not intend to stab the complainant,” counsel insisted.
The judge rejected suggestions that Cull could live with a relative one mile from the scene of the incident.
He will be released on bail, however, if an address approved by police is identified.
Adjourning the case to September 12, Mr Keown prohibited Cull from any contact with the complainant and imposed an exclusion zone.
He added: “For the avoidance of doubt, that should be at least a ten-mile radius of (the alleged victim’s) home.”
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