Courts / Galway / Report
"Good man and hard worker" strangled after making complaint to gardai
Summary
In a 2011 murder case in Galway, a 31‑year‑old Latvian man, Andresj Krauze, was found guilty of strangling fellow Latvian Juris Buls, aged 30, after Buls had lodged a complaint with the Gardaí. The prosecution argued that Krauze strangled Buls when the victim refused to withdraw his complaint. The body was discovered in a drain two weeks later. A jury of twelve deliberated for just under five hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict after a three‑week trial. Justice Margaret Heneghan announced that a mandatory life sentence would be imposed on 26 April, pending a statement from Buls's sister. Krauze pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The case involved a search of Funshin Wood, where Garda Sergeant Shane Birmingham found a body in a drain, and subsequent extradition of Krauze from England to Latvia and back to Ireland.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Good man and hard worker" strangled after making complaint to gardai. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Buls at an unknown time on July 7 or 8, 2011 in the county of Galway; manslaughter in relation to Mr Buls's death in July 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 7 Incident
- April 26 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 9 Other
- July 23 Other
- July 2013 Other
- March 2012 Incident
- 2017-03-29 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering Mr Buls at an unknown time on July 7 or 8, 2011 in the county of Galway; manslaughter in relation to Mr Buls's death in July 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Justice Margaret Heneghan said she will hand down the mandatory life sentence on April 26 when the victim's sister will make a statement to the court.
Places mentioned
Topics
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