No bail for fiancee murder accused over fears for son, who’s top witness
A MAN accused of slitting his fiancee’s throat has been refused bail to protect his son, who is regarded as the main “vulnerable” witness.
For the first time since she was killed last January, Craigavon Magistrates Court heard the alleged circumstances surrounding the death of 51-year-old Anita Downey.
Her partner David Lyness, also 51, is in custody charged with her murder on January 20 this year. He appeared via video-link and unsuccessfully applied for bail.
Giving evidence to the court yesterday, a detective constable described how Lyness’ son made a 999 call telling the operator that “his father had slit his girlfriend’s throat”.
“He had ran from the home because his father had threatened him,” said the officer, outlining that the caller also told the operator the couple had been “arguing over their engagement” and that his father had “pointed the knife at himself and said he was going to kill himself ”.
The officer claimed that during the argument Lyness was “demanding the ring back”, adding that when police arrived at his house at Toberhewny in Lurgan, Ms Downey was lying in a pool of blood on the floor with “an open wound to her neck”.
When arrested and interviewed, Lyness, who had been in a relationship with Ms Downey for three years, claimed the inflicting of the wound “was an accident”.
The officer said police were objecting to bail amid fears that Lyness would reoffend or would interfere with the main prosecution witness, the defendant’s son, who he described as “vulnerable”.
He told the court while the defence had proposed two bail addresses, neither was suitable as one was where the alleged murder took place and the other was one where the tenant is currently in prison. Defence barrister Aaron Thompson contended that it could be used “on a temporary basis”, submitting that Lyness had given an explanation for what had happened which “will be a matter for the trial”.
Refusing the bail application, District Judge Bernie Kelly revealed Lyness had 25 previous convictions and that she shared police concerns over the main witness, and that the alleged killer “was at risk of harming himself ”.
Remanding Lyness into custody, the judge ordered him to appear again on May 5.