Court hears details of officer shot with his own gun

A man accused of wounding an off-duty policeman grabbed the victim's gun and struggled with him before the officer sustained a gunshot to his thigh, a court has heard.

Kyle Knell is accused of seizing the loaded Glock pistol from the constable's holster at a house in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, on 6 January, 2025.

The 30-year-old accused, from Tynan Drive in Newtownabbey, is facing multiple charges following the alleged cocaine-fuelled psychotic episode.

The details emerged at Belfast Magistrates' Court as Knell was released on bail again after breaching a previous ban on consuming alcohol or drugs.

During the bail hearing, police revealed that Knell has since broken both his own legs by falling from a bedroom window last November.

The court also heard details of the incident which allegedly led to the off-duty Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer being shot with his own gun.

It was alleged that Knell was barefoot and bare-chested when he arrived at the Newtownabbey house in a state of panic.

He had allegedly fled from a local hotel earlier that evening and claimed someone wanted to shoot or kill him.

He was vomiting and sweating profusely and a detective told the court that Knell appeared to be in the "midst of a drug-induced episode of psychosis and paranoia".

Residents at the property initially called for an ambulance, but while they waited an off-duty PSNI constable appeared and entered the hallway.

"The defendant continued to behave erratically and lunged at the police officer with a view to obtaining a hug," the detective told the court.

When Knell realised the constable was carrying a concealed gun, he managed to grab it from the holster, according to the case against him.

As the two men struggled with the gun, the defendant allegedly tried to twist the weapon round towards the officer's abdomen.

Aware of other people in the hall, the policeman tried to keep the gun pointed downwards and managed to release a magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition.

However, one bullet was discharged and struck the constable in the thigh.

Fragments from the round also penetrated the ankle of a woman present at the scene.

Another of the occupants of the house then struck Knell over the head with an ornament and the accused left the property.

But minutes later police were told Knell had gone to another house in the neighbourhood where he allegedly grabbed a teenage boy.

Knell was arrested at the scene, allegedly still in possession of the officer's ammunition.

The charges Knell faces include wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, false imprisonment, common assault and causing actual bodily harm.

He is further accused of possessing the loaded firearm with intent to endanger life and while drunk or under the influence of drugs, stealing a magazine and ammunition belonging to the PSNI, and trespass to a building.

The accused was initially granted bail in March last year, but allegedly breached his conditions by taking alcohol and cocaine last summer.

He was released again, but then in November he spent a number of weeks in hospital following a suspected drunken accident.

"Police understand the defendant jumped or fell from his bedroom window and broke both his legs," the detective told the court.

In the latest alleged breach on Tuesday, Knell made a series of 999 calls stating that he had taken alcohol and was in a paranoid state.

Concerns were raised that he displayed similar behaviour to the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident.

However, Knell's defence barrister argued that that his client had reported himself to police and had fully cooperated with the authorities.

"He had been at a funeral yesterday of a close friend who died suddenly, took a couple of beers at the gathering afterwards, immediately felt unwell and acutely paranoid," he said.

The defence barrister insisted any risk of re-offending has been reduced because Knell "can't walk properly" since he fell from the window six months ago.

The judge released Knell on bail once again, on the condition that he must seek medical help for his mental health within 14 days.

"He seems to be completely ignoring the no alcohol and drugs condition," the judge said.

"If that continues I'm going to rapidly conclude the risk is not being adequately managed."