Teen rape accused was out on bail

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A 14-year-old boy accused of raping a German student in a north Belfast park was out on bail at the time, the High Court has been told.

The boy had been freed from a juvenile remand centre on charges of assault and criminal damage.

He is charged with the rape and attempted rape of a 19-year-old gap year student at Woodvale Park last December. Bail was refused.

A co-accused, also aged 14, has not applied for bail and is in custody.

'Shooting threat'

Objecting to the boy's release, a prosecution lawyer alleged that while one of the defendants was sexually assaulting the girl the other accused was stabbing her with a kitchen knife.

She said the girl was also punched in the stomach and kicked in the face and was warned that if she told anyone what happened they "would come and shoot her".

The ordeal ended only when the defendants began arguing among themselves, allowing her to run away and call for help.

The lawyer said that the boy admitted to police that he was involved in the incident, but denied raping the girl.

A defence barrister said there was no forensic evidence linking the boy to the attack.

Bail was refused.