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Attack on partner of gun accused | Attack on partner of gun accused |
(30 minutes later) | |
The partner of a man on remand for allegedly stealing jewellery worth almost £250,000, has been injured in a shooting at her Belfast home. | The partner of a man on remand for allegedly stealing jewellery worth almost £250,000, has been injured in a shooting at her Belfast home. |
Martine Benson, 32, suffered facial cuts after a shotgun blast was fired through a window of her Poleglass home. | Martine Benson, 32, suffered facial cuts after a shotgun blast was fired through a window of her Poleglass home. |
Three other women were not hurt. A letter containing a threat was put through the letterbox. | Three other women were not hurt. A letter containing a threat was put through the letterbox. |
Martine and her sister Seaneen's partners are on remand awaiting trial for kidnap and possession of a gun. | Martine and her sister Seaneen's partners are on remand awaiting trial for kidnap and possession of a gun. |
The charges against Martine's partner follow a failed robbery in Belfast last December when some £230,000 worth of jewellery was allegedly taken from a firm on the Boucher Road, before police swooped. | |
Ms Benson had gone to switch off a light when a single shot shattered the property on Good Shepherd Court. | |
"It blew my living room to pieces," she said. | "It blew my living room to pieces," she said. |
"I've got cuts and bruises all over my body, and the smoke was everywhere. | "I've got cuts and bruises all over my body, and the smoke was everywhere. |
Martine Benson sustained facial cuts from showering glass | Martine Benson sustained facial cuts from showering glass |
"It was aimed at myself; I'm lucky I'm not dead. | "It was aimed at myself; I'm lucky I'm not dead. |
"This is affecting my life, and my nerves." | "This is affecting my life, and my nerves." |
Ms Benson said the letter contained a threat urging both her and her sister's partners to withdraw statements. | Ms Benson said the letter contained a threat urging both her and her sister's partners to withdraw statements. |
She spoke to her partner in jail on Tuesday, hours after the attack. | She spoke to her partner in jail on Tuesday, hours after the attack. |
She said he was adamant that he had not made any statements. | She said he was adamant that he had not made any statements. |
Ms Benson's four children are understood to have been staying with relatives when the shooting happened. | |
Detectives are seeking a motive for the attack but are not treating it as sectarian or paramilitary. | Detectives are seeking a motive for the attack but are not treating it as sectarian or paramilitary. |
They have appealed for information. | They have appealed for information. |