A trial date has been set in the case of a man charged with attempted murder following an alleged stabbing at a property in Carlisle last month.
Viorel Iulian Pricope, 24, was one of three men charged after police were called to an address at the city’s Warwick Square at around 9.45pm on February 6.
A 38-year-old man was said to have suffered a stab wound during the incident. He was taken to hospital and reported, days later, to be “critically ill”.
There was an increased police presence in that area of the city as an investigation began. This has led to three men being charged.
Pricope, of Warwick Square, faces a total of six charges. One alleges that he attempted to murder Marcin Lichaczewski on February 6.
Two charges allege assault by beating, one alleges the illegal possession of a kitchen knife, one alleges Pricope did acts tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice, and one alleges affray.
Two other men – Fernando Andrei Haliga, 23, and 25-year-old Costel-Mihaita Puiu, of Warwick Square – are also charged with affray.
Haliga, of St Nicholas Street, Carlisle, is further alleged to have had illegal possession of a baseball bat at Warwick Square and doing an act tending or intended to pervert the course of justice.
The case of the three men came before Judge Simon Medland QC at Carlisle Crown Court this morning. The three Romanian nationals were due to appear via video link but this was not possible due to technical issues.
During a short hearing at which the trio’s respective lawyers were present, prosecutor David Traynor revealed: “The (main) complainant in this case is still in hospital.”
A trial date was provisionally fixed for 4th January next year.
No pleas have yet been entered by the three defendants, who are currently remanded in custody. However, a hearing is scheduled to take place at the crown court on June 23 at which pleas could be entered.
