Murder bid accused granted bail

A Lurgan woman who said she stabbed a man seven times because she thought she was about to be raped, has been granted bail by the High Court in Belfast.

Suna Capraz, 23, faces a charge of attempted murder over the alleged attack in the County Armagh town.

She said she lashed out with a knife in a bid to escape after being dragged into a house and pinned down.

The judge said Ms Capraz, of Derry Street, must surrender her passport and stay out of Lurgan and Craigavon.

The County Armagh woman is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, criminal damage and making a threat to kill.

A prosecuting barrister said police found the injured man, in his 40s, lying on a sofa on 27 February.

The court heard Capraz, described as a self-confessed heroin addict, was visibly upset and told officers at the scene: "He was going to rape me, I had to stab him."

The wounded man claimed, however, that she attacked him when he removed her from his home.

"His case is he asked her for sexual relations and she refused, whereupon he put her out of the premises," the Crown lawyer said.

"He said she returned to the home, smashed his window and when he confronted her she had a knife and stabbed him."

A defence lawyer said the man allegedly chased her when she escaped, "throwing flying kicks or karate kicks to her head".

The barrister added that Ms Capraz disputed the number of times she lashed out at him, and told the court she was now clean of drugs.

Granting bail, Lord Justice Coghlin made clear that the self-defence claims would be decided by another court.

An alcohol ban and night-time curfew was also imposed.