Kyle Knell, a 30-year-old from Tynan Drive in Newtownabbey, has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for injuring an off-duty police officer during a violent struggle in which the officer's own firearm was discharged. Knell pleaded guilty to six charges on Friday at Belfast Crown Court, including two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, possessing a firearm in suspicious circumstances and false imprisonment. Judge Philip Gilpin divided the sentence equally between custody and licence, stating that Knell's actions had caused "significant harm to others".
The incident unfolded on 6 January 2025 when Knell visited a hotel with friends where he consumed substantial quantities of alcohol and cocaine. After leaving the venue, he flagged down a motorist and was dropped in a residential street in County Antrim. A woman who knew Knell was sitting in a parked car outside her parents' house with her partner, an off-duty police officer. When Knell approached the vehicle and banged on the door, shouting that people were trying to kill him, the woman allowed him inside her parents' home, where he began vomiting blood.
An ambulance was summoned, and shortly afterwards the woman's police officer partner arrived at the scene. Knell then shouted "he's here to shoot me" and lunged at the officer, placing his hands around the man's waist and managing to seize his loaded Glock firearm during the struggle. As Knell pointed the weapon at the officer's stomach, the officer attempted to force the gun downwards. The weapon discharged, and a bullet ricocheted off the floor, with fragments striking the officer in his thigh and his partner in her ankle. After the officer regained control of the weapon, Knell fled to a nearby house. Police arrived quickly and arrested him, transporting him to Antrim Area Hospital. When questioned about the gun, Knell claimed he had struggled with the officer because he believed his life was in danger.
How did the case progress through the courts?
The case initially appeared before Belfast magistrates following the January 2025 incident. In April, Knell was granted bail again after allegedly breaching an order prohibiting alcohol and drugs, and the judge ordered him to seek mental health treatment within 14 days. At that earlier hearing, Knell was facing nine charges, including attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. By June, he had already pleaded guilty to firearm offences linked to the incident before the September sentencing hearing.
What factors did the judge consider?
Following his guilty pleas, Knell told a probation officer that he understood his actions would have frightened those involved and expressed a wish to apologise. His defence team highlighted his diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, his addiction to cocaine, and expert evidence that on the night in question he was experiencing an episode of drug-induced psychosis. Judge Gilpin also took into account Knell's troubled childhood, his previously clear criminal record, and two character references submitted on his behalf. The judge stated that "the custody threshold has quite clearly been passed in this case" and imposed the 42-month sentence, after which Knell was led from the dock in handcuffs by prison staff.
Key Facts
- Kyle Knell, 30, was sentenced to 42 months on 6 January 2025 for injuring an off-duty police officer with the officer's own firearm
- The incident occurred after Knell consumed large quantities of alcohol and cocaine and was experiencing cocaine-induced psychosis
- A bullet ricocheted off the floor during the struggle, striking both the officer in his thigh and his partner in her ankle
- Knell pleaded guilty to six charges including two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment
- The judge divided the sentence equally between prison custody and licence, citing Knell's troubled childhood and mental health diagnosis as mitigating factors
