A man accused of punching his pregnant partner around the face “numerous times” has been granted bail to return to England after serving the equivalent of a five month sentence on remand.
Granting the 43-year-old bail, the deputy district judge said: “I would prefer that he were in London; he has served a substantial amount of time, so being a flight risk would not be a concern to me as risk of further offending in Northern Ireland.”
Audrius Jakutis, of Navan Court in Armagh, did not appear as a bail application was made on his behalf at the city’s Magistrates’, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
The accused is charged with threats to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
At a previous bail hearing, a constable outlined that on November 29 police received a report of a domestic assault at an address in Armagh.
Officers arrived and spoke with the alleged victim. It was observed that she had swelling to her left cheekbone and bruising to her right eye.
She informed the police that this was as a result of being assaulted by her partner, the defendant, and he was subsequently arrested.
The constable explained the nature of the alleged assault had been “punching numerous times around the face”.
She added that the injured party is currently around two months pregnant with the defendant’s child.
The constable also stated that Jakutis is alleged to have told police that he would “kill that f***ing b****”, and police feared that this may be carried out.
Outlining objections on Friday, prosecution said there were concerns the defendant would return to Armagh and attempt to locate the victim.
They stated there was also a fear that Jakutis would be a flight risk or not abide by bail conditions and police would not be able to locate him.
Defence barrister Seamus Lannon claimed the change in circumstance in this case was “unsurprisingly delay” with his client having spent the equivalent of five months in prison.
He also told court that the injured party had been in contact with his instructing solicitor stating she did not wish to proceed with the matter.
Mr Lannon said it was hoped that Jakutis could return to his own address in London but admitted this was a “big ask”.
Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer stated: “I would prefer that he were in London; he has served a substantial amount of time so being a flight risk would not be a concern to me as risk of further offending in Northern Ireland.”
Jakutis was granted his own bail of £500 to an address in Walton-on-Thames, London, with conditions not to contact the injured party and not to enter the city of Armagh.
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