A man’s thumb was almost completely severed with a Stanley Knife during an alleged drug deal gone wrong in North Belfast, a court heard.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard a co-defendant allegedly called the injured party over to him and demanded money at the shops on July 27. It was claimed that when the injured party jumped back Armstrong came out of the bushes and attacked him from behind with a knuckle duster.CCTV footage viewed by police showed two suspects in a convenience store at the scene and getting into a car driven by a woman.
Forensic examinations of the seized car revealed suspected blood on the door handles, the court heard on Thursday.Defence solicitor Ciaran Toner argued that his client had not been in the car when it was stopped, and challenged the strength of identification evidence.District Judge Anne Marshall was told the charges were premature because tests on the blood could have excluded him.