A man charged in connection with a knife attack in north Belfast has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. Hadi Alodid, 31, also denied possessing a bladed weapon and a charge of threatening or abusive behavior.
Alodid is accused of attacking Stephen Ogilvie in June. Ogilvie, who is in his 40s, sustained significant injuries, including the loss of his left eye and damage to his right eye.
Appearing in handcuffs at Belfast Crown Court, Alodid, who has been in custody since his arrest, responded to the three charges through an Arabic interpreter with the words "not guilty."
A trial date has been set for early February, with several review hearings scheduled beforehand. The court heard that the attack occurred on June 8 in the vicinity of Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast.
Videos shared online at the time showed a confrontation involving multiple individuals, some armed with objects like a hurling stick, until police arrived. Alodid was apprehended at the scene and subsequently remanded into custody.
The incident triggered widespread disorder across Belfast, resulting in damage to homes and vehicles.