Man in court over Belfast assault

A teenager stabbed a man in the throat and stomach after a row flared in his mother's bedroom, a court has heard.

Joseph Slane, 19, of Thames Court, Belfast, is charged with attempted murder over the incident last Friday.

He also faced a charge of of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his mother at Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

In granting bail, District Judge George Conner ordered Mr Slane not to contact either of the alleged victims.

The court heard the alleged male victim needed 30 stitches for a stomach wound and seven staples for a neck wound.

A police officer told the court a household knife was used to slit the victim's throat and puncture his abdomen during a domestic dispute.

The injured man, who is being treated at the city's Royal Victoria Hospital, also suffered a fractured eye socket.

Mr Slane surrendered himself to police on Monday, and while he admitted being involved in an altercation, he said he had acted in self defence after being attacked.

Acting for Mr Slane, defence lawyer Brendan Blaney said the assault was not pre-meditated and the knife was already in the room when the incident occurred.

Concerns about the accused's IQ and general level of understanding were also outlined. An uncle was called in to accompany him during police questioning, the court was told.