Woman accused of simulating housemate's suicide told gardai of row over car loan

A 34-year-old woman from Latvia is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of a man in connection with the death of her housemate. The accused is alleged to have placed a cord around the neck of Antra Ozolina to simulate suicide at their home in Kilnaleck, County Cavan on or about 27 or 28 June 2014. She has pleaded not guilty but accepts that Ms Ozolina's death was not self-inflicted. In her voluntary statement to gardai, the accused described a significant row with the deceased over a car loan she had agreed to sign for but subsequently withdrew from. She recounted that Ms Ozolina was intoxicated when they met that evening and became angry at her decision. The accused stated she went to bed and discovered Ms Ozolina the following morning. She later told gardai that another person was present in the house that night. The trial before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury continues.