Triple attempted murder charges dropped against US honeymooner involved in Co Antrim pub altercation

An American honeymooner will not be charged with attempted murder arising from an altercation at a village pub, the News Letter can reveal.
Nicholas Keith Warner and wife Kaylee pictured at Ballymena court in 2018Nicholas Keith Warner and wife Kaylee pictured at Ballymena court in 2018
Nicholas Keith Warner and wife Kaylee pictured at Ballymena court in 2018

Nicholas Keith Warner, 33 and from South Carolina, had been investigated for attempted murder after three men were stabbed in the incident on August 11, 2018.

However, he will be prosecuted with three counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

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The electrical engineer had been at a pub on Main Street in Ballycarry when the altercation broke out. Ballycarry is a small village at the base of the Islandmagee peninsula in south-east Antrim.

Ballymena Magistrates’ Court had previously been told that Warner acted in self-defence after being attacked.

Two of the stabbing victims were men aged in their 30s, while another one was aged in his 60s. Warner appeared at the court hearing on crutches.

Warner was allowed to travel back to the USA by a judge, on condition he lodge a £4,000 surety and hand over his passport to US police, alongside his new wife, a nurse named Kaylee.

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The case had gone very quiet in the roughly two years since that court hearing.

But now the News Letter has learned that the PPS has reached its decision on who to charge, and what crimes they stand accused of.

A PPS spokeswoman said: “We received a file from police in relation to an alleged incident in Ballycarry, Co Antrim on August 11 2018.

“Five suspects have been under consideration by prosecutors in relation to this.

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“After careful consideration of all the evidence reported by police in relation to these suspects, decisions have been taken not to prosecute three of them.

“It was concluded that the test for prosecution was not met in relation to these three suspects as there was no reasonable prospect of conviction on any charge.

“After careful consideration of all the evidence reported by police in relation to the other two suspects, a decision has been taken to prosecute a 33-year-old man with three counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one count of possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

“A decision has also been taken to prosecute a 32-year-old man with common assault.”

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It is understood that Mrs Warner, who had initially been a suspect in the case, will face no charges.

It is not clear when the accused will next appear in court.

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Alistair Bushe

Editor