Fell and broke his foot as he tried to climb into his partner's home, court told

A Co Armagh man accused of attacking and threatening to kill his partner fell and broke his foot as he tried to climb back into her home, the High Court heard today (Wednesday).

Christopher Simpson, 30, plunged to the ground while in breach of a ban on going near the alleged victim, prosecutors said.

Refusing his application for bail, Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan ruled he was unlikely to abide by any release conditions.

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Simpson, of Glanroy Avenue in Portadown, faces charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and making a threat to kill.

He is accused of pulling his partner’s hair before grabbing and punching her about the face and body during an incident on July 10, the court heard.

It was also claimed that he told her: “This time I will cut your throat.”

The woman subsequently withdrew her complaint, indicating she didn’t believe he would carry out any such threat.

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Simpson had been released from custody, but was detained again following a further incident three days later.

Prosecution counsel said: “It’s alleged that he broke bail conditions by climbing up the (injured party’s) property with a view to entering her window.

“In the course of that he fell to the ground, sustaining a number of injuries himself.”

A defence lawyer confirmed the fall resulted in his client breaking a bone in his foot.

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“He’s still recovering from that and his mobility is an issue,” the barrister added.

Ruling on the bail application, Sir Declan acknowledged the alleged threat to kill was being seen as a “heat of the moment” remark.

But he held that releasing Simpson from custody would create too great a risk.

The judge said: “In order to protect the complainant, but recognising the presumption of innocence... I consider this application has to be refused.”

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