Andrei Dobra admits strangling his partner on the 12th of November 2022, but he has pleaded not guilty to her murder by reason of insanity.
A man has gone on trial accused of murdering his fiancée at the home they shared in Ratoath, Co Meath.
Andrei Dobra admits strangling his partner on the 12th of November 2022, but he has pleaded not guilty to her murder by reason of insanity.
In his opening address to the jury, prosecuting barrister, Sean Guerin SC, said the accused, Andrei Dobra, and his partner, Ioana Mihaela Pacala, had recently bought and moved into an apartment together at Riverwalk Court on Fairyhouse Rd.
On the night of the alleged murder, the jurors were told a friend of Ms Pacala’s spoke to the accused over the phone.
During that call, it will be alleged that he told her he thought he had killed his 30-year-old fiancée.
Gardai arrived at the scene soon afterwards, and he led them into the bedroom where her body was found.
He appeared calm, the jury was told.
Mr Dobra accepts that he strangled her but has pleaded not guilty to her murder by reason of insanity.
The jurors were told they’ll hear from two independent forensic psychiatrists, who both agree that he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time.
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