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Bessbrook woman who stabbed partner must await sentence

Court heard she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him once in the shoulder and once in the back

Newry courthouse police

A Bessbrook woman who stabbed her partner following a verbal argument must wait until next month to learn her fate.

Adjourning the 34-year-old’s sentencing, the district judge stated: “I think we need reports in this matter. It is one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The use of a knife is a very serious matter.”

Zara Torrens, of Dobsons Way, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Newry Magistrates’ on Wednesday.

Prosecution outlined that at 12.30pm on May 15, of last year, police received a report of a domestic disturbance involving a knife at an address on Chapel Street, Newry.

The injured party’s mother contacted police after receiving a call from her son in which he claimed to have been stabbed by the defendant, his partner.

Upon arrival at the address, officers quickly separated the pair before speaking with the injured party.

He claimed that at 12.15pm, Torrens had arrived at the property with his two children and after they left the room a verbal argument ensued.

The injured party described how the defendant then swung her hand at him, before grabbing a kitchen knife and stabbing him, once in the shoulder and once in the back.

Prosecution described one inch deep lacerations in images which were provided to the judge.

The injured party stated that Torrens had then washed the knife and he had called his mother to get her to contact police.

The defendant was arrested and during interview she denied the allegations and stated she had washed the knife whilst getting a drink for one of the children.

It was outlined by the prosecution that the injured party had withdrawn his statement of complaint and did not wish to pursue the matter.

This led to the charges being reduced from one of wounding to the charge which was pleaded to.

District Judge Eamonn King stated: “I think we need reports in this matter. It is one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The use of a knife is a very serious matter.”

The case was adjourned until July 21 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

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