Derry man pleads not guilty to non fatal strangulation

A man from the Shantallow area of the city has pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at Derry Crown Court to two charges linked to an incident in a bar last July.

The defendant, Declan Rigby (39) from Moyola Walk in Derry denies a single charge of inflicting non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation on a man by applying pressure to the complainant's neck or throat.

He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting the same man, occasioning him actual bodily harm.

Both incidents are alleged to have occurred on July 28 of last year.

A barrister for the Public Prosecution Service said the entire incident was recorded on CCTV.

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"It shows the victim at the bar counter and the defendant puts his arm around the victim's throat for fourteen seconds causing him to lose consciousness", the prosecutor said.

Following a request from defence barrister Sean Doherty, Judge Neil Rafferty KC adjourned the case until July 3 for a review.