Chef accused of stabbing colleague appears in court

A chef accused of the attempted murder of one of his colleagues at a restaurant in the Ballyhackamore area of Belfast has been refused bail after appearing in Belfast Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Laganside Courts. Image: Wiki

Rahman Sazzadur, 45, who is charged with the attempted murder of a colleague at a restaurant in east Belfast, has denied the accusation.

His victim, also a chef, was stabbed either in the back or side, although no further injury details were disclosed at the hearing.

Sazzadur’s defence lawyer claimed that his client was attacked by the complainant and was punched and had his neck grabbed. It is then claimed that Sazzadur retaliated and punched back, but was not aware that there had been a stabbing.

The lawyer claims that the dispute was over the payment of taxes.

The defendant’s bail address was opposed due to the unsuitability of the accommodation, with District Judge Fiona Bagnall refusing bail and remanding him in custody.

Sazzadur is requested to appear again before the court via video link later this month.

Ballyhackamore, affectionately known as ‘Ballysnackamore’, has had its fair share of restaurant-related drama recently, after a newly-opened restaurant in the area was badly damaged in a gas explosion.

A 32-year-old man was taken to hospital last month and treated for burns following the incident at the Clay Oven Indian restaurant last month.