A man is to stand trial accused of robbing a service station while armed with a machete, a judge has ordered.
Shane Duffy allegedly brandished the blade in front of schoolchildren at the garage in north Belfast.
The 27-year-old, of Antrim Close in the city, faces charges of robbery and possessing an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Police were alerted after a man targeted the filling station at Fortwilliam on January 20 last year.
Previous courts heard the raider produced a large machete and struck the counter with it, demanding money from the till. He escaped with around £270 in loose coins.
Members of the public directed armed PSNI officers to a nearby flat where they claimed the robber had fled to.
Duffy was detained during the operation where police also recovered a machete and large amount of coins.
Appearing remotely from custody at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today for a preliminary enquiry, he confirmed that he understood the charges but declined to give any evidence at this stage.
Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna did not dispute Crown submissions that his client has a prima facie case to answer.
Granting the prosecution’s application, Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer told Duffy: “You will be returned to the Crown Court for trial on a date to be fixed.”
No application for bail was made during the brief hearing.
Mr McKenna said: “Mr Duffy is anxious to get the matter to the Crown Court as swiftly as possible.”