David smyth, a 32-year-old with no fixed address, appeared via video link from prison at Newtownards Magistrates Court on charges of a horrific attack. His lawyer,Ciaran Harvey,made a fresh application for bail.Smyth is accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, weapon possession (a knife and a kettle), theft of the victim’s clothes, and false imprisonment, all allegedly occurring on March 20th.
A PSNI officer, objecting to Smyth’s release, detailed the victim’s account of the incident. The victim had been drinking with a friend in his Comber flat when the friend invited Smyth and his partner, Danielle Broome, to join them.
According to the victim’s statement, he answered the door to find Broome wearing a black snood with a skeleton logo. When he jokingly questioned her about it,the pair allegedly assaulted him.
The victim fled but was allegedly chased and brought back to the flat by Smyth and Broome.He was than bound with black cable ties while sitting on the floor. “The injured party was in good spirits and said that was fine,” the officer noted, recounting the victim’s initial consent to the presence of Smyth and Broome. “[Broome] was wearing a black snood with a skeleton logo … ” He added that a few hours later, Broom and Smyth arrived at the door.
The victim claimed Smyth then gagged him with a microfibre cloth.
He further alleged being struck on the head with an empty Buckfast bottle and punched in the face before Smythe began to”stab him multiple times and burn him with a kettle of water”.
A couple has been accused of a violent attack that left a man with burns and othre injuries, highlighting the chilling lengths to which they allegedly went to silence him. The incident, which took place on March 20, reportedly involved a brutal assault, threats against the victim’s family, and the theft of his belongings.
A Gruesome Attack and chilling Threats
According to police evidence, the victim was confronted by the couple, who demanded to know if he “liked” them. they allegedly proceeded to assault him, burning him with a kettle and leaving him with bruises and cuts.
Adding to the horror, the attackers allegedly forced the victim to undress and stole his clothing along with his phone. Before fleeing, they allegedly issued chilling threats, warning him not to contact the police or emergency services. They reportedly threatened to harm his mother and grandmother, whom they named, if he dared to report the incident.They instructed him to fabricate a story about injuring himself on a fence if questioned.
The victim endured these injuries for a full 24 hours before his mother, concerned for his well-being, discovered him in a distressed state and contacted the police. He identified the couple as his attackers, stating that the assault stemmed from a social media post where he expressed his negative opinion of broome.
CCTV footage from a Comber gas station corroborated the timeline of the attack, while DNA evidence linked Smyth to the kettle used in the assault.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Both the accused were apprehended within days of the attack. however, they refused to cooperate with the police investigation, declining to answer any questions. While Smyth remains in custody, Broome, from Portallo Street in Belfast, is currently on bail. She faces charges of actual bodily harm, false imprisonment, and theft of the complainant’s clothes.
Bail Denied in Alleged Home Torture Case
A defendant identified as smyth appeared in court seeking bail on charges of torture and threats. smyth’s defense attorney argued for his release, highlighting the straightforward nature of the case and emphasizing the progress delay. The attorney also pointed to Smyth’s lack of outstanding cases, with all previous charges having been resolved.
smyth’s father offered a £1,000 surety in support of the bail application. However, District Judge Mark Hamill denied the request.
Judge Hamill stated that he must consider the prosecution’s case at its strongest point. He cited the seriousness of the allegations, describing them as “torturing a man in his own home and threatening his mother and grandmother.”
judge Hamill further explained that the victim’s fear was so profound that he didn’t initially report the alleged crime. “he (the victim) took those threats so seriously… he was so frightened by them that he did not report it at all,” the judge stated.
## Q&A: Alleged Torture in Comber
**Characters:**
* **david Smyth:** Accused of torture, grievous bodily harm, and other charges.
* **Danielle Broome:** smyth’s partner, accused of false imprisonment and theft.
**Q:** What are the main charges against David Smyth?
**A:** Smyth is charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of weapons (a knife and a kettle), theft of the victim’s clothes, and false imprisonment.
**Q:** What did Smyth’s lawyer, Ciaran Harvey, argue in court regarding his bail application?
**A:** Harvey argued for Smyth’s release, stating that the case was straightforward and there was a substantial delay in progress. He also highlighted that Smyth had no outstanding cases, as all previous charges had been resolved.
**Q:** Why did the District Judge deny Smyth’s bail request?
**A:** Judge Hamill cited the seriousness of the allegations, describing them as “torturing a man in his own home and threatening his mother and grandmother.” he also stated that the victim’s fear was immense, stating that he was so frightened by the threats that he didn’t initially report the crime.
**Q:** Who is **David Smyth** and what charges are he facing?
**A:** **David Smyth**, a 32-year-old with no fixed address, is accused of grievous bodily harm with intent, weapon possession (a knife and a kettle), theft, and false imprisonment. These charges stem from an alleged attack that occurred in Comber on March 20th.
**Q:** What is **Ciaran Harvey’s** role in this case and what argument did he make in court?
**A:** **Ciaran Harvey** is Smyth’s lawyer. He argued for Smyth’s release on bail, stating that the case was straightforward and there was a delay in its progress. He also pointed out Smyth had no outstanding cases as all previous charges had been resolved.
Let me know if you have any other questions about this case.
