A community shaken after fatal attack in Elmfield Walk
A man from Belfast has appeared at Belfast Crown Court accused of fatally assaulting the heavily pregnant mother of his children in her home last year. The prosecution told the court the assault on 27 June 2025 left the 27-year-old woman with dozens of injuries and that her 32-week unborn baby did not survive.
The victim, named in court as Sarah Montgomery, was described by prosecutors as a much-loved mother-of-two from Donaghadee. The defendant, 29-year-old Zak Hughes, is said to have carried out what the Crown described as a prolonged, violent attack lasting around 19 minutes in Ms Montgomery’s Elmfield Walk flat.
- Date of incident: 27 June 2025
- Victim: Sarah Montgomery, 27, mother of two; unborn son at 32 weeks did not survive
- Accused: Zak Hughes, 29, of Ardglen Place, Belfast
Crown barrister Geraldine McCullough KC told Lady Justice McBride the woman sustained at least 59 sites of injury and was left in a blood-splattered flat. The prosecution says that after the assault the accused took the victim’s mobile phone and house keys, then drove their two young daughters elsewhere in his vehicle. He is alleged to have changed his clothes and discarded the items used in the attack in a bin in Belfast.
"One of the worst cases of domestic violence in recent times," the prosecutor said in court.
The court heard that Ms Montgomery and Hughes had known one another since secondary school, and their relationship had been on and off for many years. The prosecution set out a troubled history: he allegedly denied paternity of the pregnancy at first and later accepted it after a DNA test. At the time of the alleged killing, Ms McCullough said Hughes was living with another pregnant partner at an address in Ardglen Place.
Legal proceedings and local impact
The case is being prosecuted before Lady Justice McBride. As the court heard details of the allegations, family members of the victim were present in the public gallery. The funeral and mourning for the woman and her unborn child have deeply affected relatives and the local community, particularly as both of Ms Montgomery’s parents are deceased, the court was told.
Prosecutors argued the attack was deliberate and sustained. Defence of the accused will take place in court; no verdict has been reached and the defendant remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| 27 June 2025 | Alleged murder at Elmfield Walk |
| Court date (reported) | Prosecution outline heard at Belfast Crown Court |
Local residents and campaigners for victims of domestic violence have frequently urged better protections and support services for those at risk. While the court process unfolds, the details revealed in court will be closely watched by community leaders and those working in domestic violence prevention and survivor support.
The Crown described the assault as "cold-blooded, sustained and murderous" during submissions to the judge. The severity of the injuries and the involvement of a pregnant victim has prompted renewed calls from charities and political representatives in Northern Ireland for continued investment in services that prevent domestic abuse and support survivors and families affected by such crimes.
Next steps in the case will be set out by the court as the prosecution and defence prepare for a trial. In the meantime, the proceedings have brought into stark relief the human cost of intimate partner violence and the ongoing demand for support mechanisms across Belfast and surrounding communities.
