Courts / Cavan / Report

Accused's violent childhood left her with "limited ability" to defy abusive partner, psychiatrist tells trial

Summary

A trial at the Central Criminal Court heard evidence that a 34-year-old woman accused of impeding the prosecution of her partner in connection with a death would have had limited capacity to resist his control due to childhood trauma. A consultant forensic psychiatrist testified that the woman, charged with obstructing the apprehension or prosecution of a man in connection with the death of a housemate at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan in June 2014, had been a victim of violent crime as a child. The psychiatrist said this early traumatic experience left her vulnerable to abusive relationships and with impaired ability to recognise danger in others. The woman has pleaded not guilty to the charge but accepts that her housemate's death was not suicide and does not dispute that her former partner caused it. She told gardaí she acted under his orders while in fear for her life. The defence has closed its case, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Accused's violent childhood left her with "limited ability" to defy abusive partner, psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the man, knowing or believing him to have murdered her 49-year-old housemate, Antra Ozolina (49), or committed some other arrestable offence; carrying out the offence at their home at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan on or about June 27 or June 28 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 27 Incident
• June 28 2014 Incident
• 2018-02-12 Publication

Why: It's alleged that Egita Jaunmaize, of no fixed abode, placed a blue cord around Ms Ozolina's neck so as to simulate her suicide in order to make it more difficult to establish that her death was suspicious. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report