A 15-year-old youth was charged yesterday with raping a 36 year-old woman and attempting to murder her in her home in north Belfast last week.
A second youth aged 16 was also charged with trying to murder the woman and aiding and abetting rape.
Both were further charged with aggravated burglary and stealing cash cards while armed with a hammer, screwdriver and Stanley knife.
The charges relate to an incident at Brookvale Avenue last Friday when the woman was left severely traumatised and required hospital treatment.
The defendants cannot be named as they are under the age of 17. Both were allowed to stand outside the dock at Belfast Magistrates Court which was cleared of members of the public for the brief hearing.
A detective constable said the 15-year-old made no reply to the rape charge. When charged with attempted murder he said: "I didn't try to kill anybody" and to the burglary charge he said: "I didn't steal any of this."
The detective said the other defendant made no reply to the charges. "I believe I can connect them to the charges," the officer added. Emmanuel Morgan, solicitor for the 15 year-old, said: "I would like to emphasise what he said in reply to the allegation of attempted murder." Solicitor Jim Sheridan, for the second defendant, said "he vehemently denies these charges and in particular he denies that he took part in the physical attack on the unfortunate injured party." Both accused were remanded in custody until April 19th and were told they were entitled to apply to the High Court for bail.