A couple driving past originally thought Murray was performing CPR on the person before they stopped and realised the male was strangling the female
A 29-year old man who strangled and punched a woman at a bus stop in Belfast was handed a 22-month sentence today (Tuesday).
The sentence was imposed upon Ryan Gerard Murray at Belfast Crown Court by Judge Patrick Lynch KC who divided the term equally between prison and supervised licence.
Murray, of no fixed abode, admitted charges of non-fatal strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which he committed on May 30 last year.
On that day, a couple were driving along the Antrim Road in the north of the city when they saw two people at a bus stop – one lying on the ground with the other on top.
As the female occupant of the car initially believed the person on top was performing CPR on the person on the ground, the couple stopped their car.
At this point the couple saw and heard a second vehicle parked close to the bus stop sounding its horn.
After the male occupants of both cars spoke to each other, it became clear that a male at the bus stop was strangling a female as she lay on the ground.
As the motorists walked toward the bus stop, they heard the pair arguing about money and the woman telling Murray to leave her alone.
The woman then got up and as she walked away, Murray pulled her arm then punched her once to the left side of her face.
One of the male motorists then put himself between the woman and Murray until police arrived.
Officers noted that both Murray and the injured woman were intoxicated and she told police that Murray had strangled her.
This was the last engagement she had with the authorities and she made no statement of complaint.
Murray was arrested and during an interview, he gave a ‘no comment’ response to all questions put to him. He later pleaded guilty both charges.
A Crown barrister told Judge Lynch that whilst the injured party and defendant were known to each other, this was not a case aggravated by domestic abuse.
The prosecutor also told Judge Lynch that a large portion of Murray’s 66 previous convictions were linked to his use of drugs and alcohol.
Regarding Murray’s addiction issues, a solicitor said these have been an “absolute blight” on his client’s life and that steps have been taken to address them.
He added that Murray’s Probation Report contained expressions of “genuine remorse” and an acknowledgement that he needs to “change his life and turn it around.”
Judge Lynch noted that since being on remand since last June, Murray is working with addiction services and has remained drugs-free.
Branding both offences as serious and imposing the sentence upon Murray, Judge Lynch spoke of the long-term physical and mental impacts that incidents of non-fatal strangulation can have upon victims.
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