A Strabane mother was attacked and knocked unconscious in front of her six-year-old son, it was alleged in the High Court this week.
Prosecutors said the young boy claimed Leon Owens continued to punch and kick her while she was passed out, and that he blocked an attempt to strike her with a poker.
Owens (29), of The Crescent, Clady, Strabane, faces charges of assault occasioni
ng actual bodily harm and making threats to kill. He was refused bail after a judge heard details of the alleged beating at another address in the town last month.
Crown counsel Kate McKay said police called to the scene on September 21 found the woman in an ambulance outside her home. She told officers that Owens had attacked her and threatened to kill her in front of her son, according to Mrs McKay.
“It’s alleged that the applicant punched (the woman) to the face and she lost consciousness,” the barrister said. “Her son told her the applicant continued to punch and kick her while she was unconscious.
“The young boy also said he (Owens) lifted a poker and made to strike her, but the young son intervened and put himself between the applicant and his mother who was unconscious at the time.”
Medical examinations revealed the woman had suffered facial wounds and bruising to the neck and arm.
But the Crown accepted injuries were also found on Owens, who was arrested after voluntarily going to Strabane police station a week later.
His defence lawyer said he had acted in self defence, and told the court violence flared after he spent a number of hours drinking with the woman.
However, Mr Justice Morgan refused to release him on bail after referring to the level of violence required to inflict the woman’s injuries.
The full article contains 310 words and appears in Journal Friday DER Edition newspaper.
