Being kept waiting led to knife attack, court told

Man allegedly stabbed his lifelong friend for being 10 minutes late in picking him up

A man allegedly stabbed his lifelong friend for being late collecting him on a night out, the High Court in Belfast has heard.

Mark Sell armed himself with two knives and chased the victim around his car before inflicting multiple wounds, prosecutors said.

A judge was told that Mr Sell attacked Mark McKeown after taking umbrage at the 10-minute delay in collecting him.

"The injured party is [now] petrified of the defendant," prosecution counsel Philip Henry said.

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Mr Sell (25) faces a total of nine charges connected to the alleged attack on the outskirts of west Belfast.

He is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of an offensive weapon with intent, and criminal damage to both Mr McKeown’s Volkswagen Golf and a wheelie bin.

Mr Sell, of Laburnum Park in Dunmurry, Co Antrim is further charged with aggravated burglary, trying to take a car without the owner’s consent, two assaults on police and damage to a PSNI vehicle.

The alleged offences took place on March 21st and 22nd.

Late collection

During a bail hearing, Mr Henry said Mr Sell had been on a night out with an arrangement for Mr McKeown to collect him. The barrister said the victim was going to be late as he had to pick someone else up first.

“Quite inexplicably, the applicant seemed to take umbrage at this and made his way to the injured party’s home,” he said.

When Mr McKeown arrived back, Mr Sell was allegedly inside armed with two knives.

“He chased the injured party out of the house, who sought refuge at the side of his car,” the prosecutor said. “As he was running away, he was attacked and stabbed by the applicant.”

Details emerged as Mr Sell sought a variation on bail conditions so that he can return to his home. He was released last month to live with his brother, with a ban imposed on him going within three miles of the Twinbrook area.

His legal team returned to court seeking new arrangements based on his mental health problems. Declan Quinn, defending, argued that the most serious charge of grievous bodily harm may not be maintained.

Adjourning the bail variation hearing, Lord Justice Coghlin ordered further medical evidence and a statement about Mr Sell's family circumstances.