A 20-year-old Derry woman who is charged with stabbing her boyfriend last night told police: 'I tried to stab him in the chest but he woke up'.
Samantha Barton, of Bond Street, appeared before Derry Magistrates Court today charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knife.
The offences are said to have taken place last night, November 29.
Police received a call from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service saying they were attending at Bond Street and that the woman, Barton, had told them she stabbed her partner.
The man said he had been lying sleeping on the sofa and awoke to find Barton trying to stab him in the chest, when he moved and she stabbed his upper arm.
The man said that Barton then began self-harming and he managed to get the knife off her.
The man was taken to hospital and received stitches to a wound on his arm.
When police were present, Barton told them, 'I stabbed him, he was on the sofa sleeping and I tried to stab him in the chest but he woke up.'
She also said that she then went upstairs and self-harmed and police observed cuts to her arms and legs'.
Barton added: 'There's only me and him, so it had to be me'.
The man, who has been in a relationship with Barton for a couple of months, later refused to co-operate with police and said he still 'fully intends to continue the relationship'.
Police objected to bail for fear of further offences and said the man is at 'high risk of domestic violence' following this incident.
Deaglan Barrett, defence solicitor, said that a bail address was available for Barton at her mother's house and asked she be realeased under strict conditions.
District Judge Barney McElholm released Barton on her own bail of £500 with a £500 cash surety. She must reside at Lincoln Courts and attend her GP forthwith and seek a medical referral from the Community Mental Health Team.
She must also only have contact with her boyfriend under the supervision of her mother or father.
She must not enter the cityside of Derry unless attending pre-arranged solicitor or court appointments. She will also observe a curfew and will be electronically tagged.
The matter will be back before the court again on December 17.
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