Man accused of knocking his partner unconscious with a frying pan

Prosecutors claimed Mindaugas Morkevicius, 39, left the woman bleeding heavily from a serious head injury inflicted during last month’s drunken assault.

He is also accused of previously scarring her with a knife as part of a five-year campaign of domestic violence.

Details emerged as a judge refused his application to be released on bail.

Morkevicius, of The Old Mill in Killyleagh, remains in custody on charges of causing grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He faces three further counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a domestic abuse offence.

Police were alerted after the woman attended a shop in the village on July 24, wounded and carrying her young child.

“She was covered in blood, the back of her head was matted and it was dripping out of her hair,” Crown counsel said.

The woman claimed Morkevicius had been drinking spirits at home but became angry and jealous when she had to leave for work.

“It then escalated and the applicant hit her over the head with a frying pan, causing a large laceration to the back of her head and knocking her temporarily unconscious,” the prosecutor submitted.

Due to her state of fear she waited until he fell asleep, cleaned up the blood and then fled with the child.

In an initial account before being taken to hospital by ambulance, the woman claimed Morkevicius had been physically and emotionally abusive over the last five years.

Officers observed scarring to parts of her body said to have been inflicted with a knife on two previous occasions.

“She had another scar on her forehead which she alleged was caused by the applicant slamming her head into a kitchen worktop,” counsel added.

With work colleagues stating they believed the woman had been the victim of domestic abuse due to her injuries, the court heard she was “petrified” that Morkevicius may come for her again.

He was arrested at the house where police observed blood stains on the floor and a door. Photographs were also taken of a pan allegedly used to carry out the attack.

Opposing his application for bail, the prosecutor argued: “The complainant believes that if released he would return to kill her.”

Morkevicius’ lawyer told the court he had made “partial” admissions at interview, but claimed to have limited memory due to his alcohol consumption.

It was also suggested that the alleged victim may no longer be willing to make a formal complaint against him.

However, Mrs Justice Smyth stressed police body worn footage could still be used as evidence in a case involving extremely serious charges.

Denying the accused’s bid to be released, the judge ruled: “This man is wholly unsuitable for bail.”