A woman accused of spitting off a balcony and hitting the head of a 14-month-old child has had her bail application adjourned.
The defendant is also alleged to have spat on one police officer, kicked the chest of another and having thrown a glass, hitting the foot of the same 14-month-old child.
Elizabeth Sterrett, of Black Mountain Walk in Belfast, appeared via videolink from Hydebank at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday, for the purposes of a bail application.
The 23-year-old faces charges of common assault, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence and two counts of assault on police.
Outlining details, prosecution stated that at 6.30pm on September 20, police received a report from a female.
She claimed to have been helping a distressed woman in her home, when the defendant began shouting abuse at her from a second floor balcony.
It was alleged that Sterrett then spat from the balcony, hitting the reporting person’s 14-month-old child.
She then proceeded to throw a glass which hit the same child on the foot, leaving them with bruising, it was further alleged.
Police arrived at the scene to arrest the defendant, who is alleged to have struggled, spitting on one officer and kicking another in the chest.
During interview, the defendant claimed she did not even think that she had been at the apartment at the time.
Defence barrister Robert McTernaghan informed court that Sterrett had been serving a sentence for a Crown Court matter for which she was due to be released on licence in September.
However, due to new Covid-19 early release directions, the defendant was to be released on June 23.
District Judge Nigel Broderick read through police objections with regards to the suitability of an address which had been put forward in Greenisland.
He stated: “Police have said there is no suitable person living there. The woman who lives there has a lengthy record and would be well known to the police.
“There are also concerns regarding that woman’s mental health. She has also only recently been temporarily released from prison.”
Mr McTernaghan stated that this person had been engaging with social services in order to gain access to her child and was keeping in line with probation.
He said: “Ms Sterrett was granted compassionate bail to attend with her son who had brain surgery. She has parental responsibilities.
“She will be tagged for 90 days upon her release; she will have to engage with the parole boards. I submit that she would have a better chance to adjust if released.”
District Judge Broderick stated: “I am not going to make a ruling. I believe this case will not be prejudiced by a short adjournment as she will remain in custody until June 23.”
The bail application was adjourned until June 10 for prosecution to gain information on the person with whom the defendant has proposed she reside.
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