Man accused of knife attack which triggered rioting to have case fast-tracked to Crown Court
A man accused of a serious knife attack which triggered rioting across Belfast is to have his case fast-tracked to a Crown Court trial, a judge confirmed today.
Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 31, is charged with attempted murder over the stabbing in the north of the city which left victim Stephen Ogilvie partially blinded.
Video footage which was circulated widely online showed members of the public intervening in a bid to stop the assault at Kinnaird Avenue on June 8 this year
One of those who went to Mr Ogilvy’s aid repeatedly struck the assailant with a hurling stick before PSNI officers arrived.
Police later disclosed that he had lost one eye and sustained severe damage to the other.
Serious disorder erupted in the aftermath of the attack, with some families were forced to flee their homes as properties, cars and a bus were set alight in parts of Belfast.
Alodid, an asylum seeker of Duncairn Gardens in the city, has also been charged with possessing a bladed article in public and threatening to kill a female NHS radiographer.
He remains in custody and without legal representation amid ongoing efforts to progress the case to a trial.
At Belfast Magistrates’ Court today prosecutors provided a brief update in his absence.
District Judge Anne Marshall was informed that Alodid has previously caused issues when being moved from the prison to attend hearings remotely.
She confirmed a committal hearing to have him returned for Crown Court trial will take place later this month.
“There is a quick and early PE (preliminary enquiry) date of September 23,” Judge Marshall stated.
Alodid will appear in court for those proceedings.