Northern Ireland

Man jailed for making threats to kill

Keelin Rheinheimer (20) of Clon Elagh in Derry had denied the charges
Keelin Rheinheimer (20) of Clon Elagh in Derry had denied the charges Keelin Rheinheimer (20) of Clon Elagh in Derry had denied the charges

A MAN has been jailed for 10 months at Derry Magistrate's Court after he was convicted of assault and threats to kill.

Keelin Rheinheimer (20) of Clon Elagh in Derry had denied the charges that were said to have occurred on May 10 last year in Rossville Street.

At a contested hearing the court heard from a woman who said she was at home on May 10 when she was seeing her friend out the door and saw two men.

The woman identified one as Rheinheimer and said one had a screwdriver and the defendant had a machete.

She told the court the two were shouting for her brother and making threats.

The woman said Rheinheimer told her "watch your house".

The court was told that after the men had gone, the woman left the house but did not contact police.

Under cross examination from Fergal McCormack defence barrister for Rheinheimer the woman accepted she had not mentioned the machete in her original statement but she said that when she received her posted copy she rang police to point out that references to the weapon had been left out.

Rheinheimer took the stand and denied being anywhere near the house on the day in question.

He told the court he spent the day with friends.

Under cross examination, Rheinheimer was asked who the friends he was with on May 10 and said he could not remember.

It was pointed out to him that he was first questioned five days after the incident and he did not remember then either.

District Judge Barney McElholm said he believed everything the woman said and did "not believe a word that Rheinheimer" said and recorded a conviction.

Judge McElholm said Rheinheimer had brought the other man to the address and added "why would you bring a dog and bark yourself?"

He sentenced Rheinheimer to 10 months in prison.