A man accused of punching his ex-partner before pushing her against a radiator following an argument over alleged infidelity has been refused bail.
Ingus Bermanis, of Newry Road, Armagh, was denied bail by District Judge Anne Marshall due to his “previous convictions for violence”.
The 44-year-old is alleged to have assaulted his ex-partner at his address in Armagh on Thursday, May 16, last year. He is further accused of non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation, threats to kill, and a domestic abuse offence.
A lawyer for the prosecution stated that the injured party was drinking in the kitchen of the property when a verbal argument took place, during which Bermanis accused the complainant of cheating on him with another man.
The complainant then alleges that Bermanis punched her in the chest and pushed her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a radiator.
The complainant was able to show physical bruising on her chest to the police.
She further accused Bermanis of attempting to strangle her after she hit her head on the radiator.
The pair then went to bed for the night, and shortly after, while in bed, Bermanis is accused of telling the complainant that he would kill her if she left the bed, something she stated she believed.
The next morning, she got up and “everything was normal”.
The police objected to bail over fears he would not turn up to court, citing two previous bench warrants for his arrest. They also referenced his previous convictions for violence.
Bermanis’ defence solicitor, Jarlath Fields, told the court that his client has resided in this jurisdiction for almost 20 years and has been living on the Newry Road for well over eight years.
“He lived there openly, and there was no attempt to evade the police or anything like that,” said Mr Fields. “Police have simply come across him and he’s been arrested on both bench warrants, and he’s been in custody since.”
Mr Fields said his client “simply lost track of the court” and that “he should have been [in court] when he was supposed to be here, he understands that now”.
District Judge Anne Marshall remarked: “I’m refusing bail because I have concerns about whether he would turn up, as evidenced by his two bench warrants.
“I am also concerned about the risk of reoffending, given his number of previous convictions for violence.”
The case was adjourned until March 4 for a preliminary enquiry.
