Woman faked housemate's suicide out of "fear", jury to hear

A 34-year-old Latvian woman has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a person in connection with a death in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, in June 2014. Egita Jaunmaize is accused of placing a cord around the neck of her housemate, Antra Ozolina, to simulate suicide and hinder investigation into the death. The prosecution alleges Ms Ozolina died from neck compression caused by another person. The defence has acknowledged that Ms Ozolina's death was not suicide and does not dispute that a named individual caused her death. The Crown's opening outlined how initial examination suggested suicide, but subsequent forensic examination by the Deputy State Pathologist revealed blunt force injuries and determined death resulted from neck compression. The trial, before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury, is expected to last two weeks.