Man alleged to have used a pistol to demand sex

JUDGE Gerard Haughton refused to deal with a case that alleged a man demanded sex from his former partner with a semi-automatic pistol and threatened to kill or cause harm to her mother, who was staying in the same house, if she didn’t comply.

Juris Smugais (39) with an address now listed as 26 Cluain Dara, Clonard Road, Wexford, was charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Olga Mizane.

Sgt Neal Daly told the court that on July 16 last at 6 Westbury Woods, The Moyne, Smugais had used a semi-automatic pistol to demand sex from his former partner Kristine Mizane and threatened the life of her mother Olga, who was visiting from Latvia and staying there, if she didn’t comply.

The DPP had initially directed that the case be dealt with by summary disposal in the District Court. However, Judge Gerard Haughton said that he was rejecting jurisdiction due to the seriousness of the alleged offence.

The case was then adjourned until January 17 for the DPP to direct whether they would proceed on indictment in the Circuit Court.

The defendant was granted bail on the condition that he stay away from Kristine Mizane. However, a barring order to this effect is already in place.

Solicitor Ed King said that his client may look for access to the couple’s two children and Judge Haughton said that Smugais would have to stay in compliance with any access order made.