A Carlisle man has admitted wounding a victim who suffered a facial injury and needed hospital treatment following a city centre incident.
Ricky Lee Wayne Murphy, 25, had initially been charged with alleged wounding of the man with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. This followed an incident which occurred at Court Square and was reported to police at 10-45am on Monday, February 21, this year, and which prompted a public appeal by detectives for information.
When Murphy appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning, he pleaded guilty to a lesser, alternative offence of unlawful and malicious wounding.
This came after behind-the-scenes discussions between the prosecution and defence, and was acceptable to all parties. It involved agreement that the crime also involved the “carrying of a knife”, the court heard.
A Cumbria police spokesman had said in the aftermath of the incident: “The victim, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with an injury to his mouth area believed to have been caused by a knife or other bladed article. The man was subsequently released from hospital, the injury having required stitches.”
The spokesman added that officers had attended the incident scene and, less than an hour later, at around 11-20am, an arrest was made in the Denton Holme area of Carlisle.
In light of Murphy’s guilty plea to the unlawful wounding charge, Recorder Ian Unsworth QC adjourned the case for the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report.
Recorder Unsworth said Murphy, latterly of Raven Nook, Carlisle, should not read anything into the fact that a report was being ordered. “This is a serious matter,” said the judge. “It is abundantly clear the court needs all available information at the time of sentence.”
Murphy was remanded in custody and is due to receive his punishment at the crown court on September 5.
