Giants trialist 'attacked dealer'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8234446.stm

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A 23-year-old ice-hockey player accused of trying to attack a drug dealer has been granted permission to travel to Latvia for a family wedding.

Sergejs Selenkous, who is due for a trial with the Belfast Giants, is charged with aggravated burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

The NI High Court heard allegations that the victim had sold poor quality drugs to Selenkous and a co-accused.

After failing to obtain a refund, the pair allegedly assaulted the dealer.

Mr Selenkous, of Whitecherry Lane, Killinchy, County Down, is on bail but returned to court seeking a variation of bail conditions to allow him to attend his sister's wedding later this month.

Proof

A prosecution lawyer agreed that Mr Selenkous had abided by all release conditions, but said he had "somewhat presumptively" already booked return flights from Dublin to Riga to get them cheaply.

Mr Selenkous's lawyer said his client would be claiming self-defence in the case against him and produced a wedding invitation as proof of the legitimacy of the planned 12-day trip.

The lawyer said his client's farm job and budding ice-hockey career were reasons why his return would be guaranteed.

The court was told Mr Selenkous, who moved to Northern Ireland in January, plays for the Latvian Hawks team.

"He is anticipating a trial with the Belfast Giants in the next month or so," his lawyer added.

Granting the variation, Mr Justice Deeny ruled there was enough evidence that the reasons given for the trip were genuine.

The judge also suspended an alcohol ban due to the difficulties in policing it while the accused is out of Northern Ireland.