Courts / Laois / Report

Woman gets four-year jail term for killing violent alcoholic boyfriend

Date
2019-08-01
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Mountrath
County
Laois

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Inga Ozolina, aged 48, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with one year suspended, back‑dated to 29 May 2019, for the manslaughter of her boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, 40. Ozolina had previously obtained two safety orders against Pukas, which had lapsed before his death. She claimed that during a violent altercation she was assaulted, pulled her hair, pushed her to the floor and was bitten, and that she used a kitchen knife to defend herself. The judge noted that the killing was in self‑defence but that the defence was excessive, and that Ozolina had not accepted responsibility for Pukas's death. The sentence reflected mitigating factors such as her good character and the history of domestic violence, while the judge emphasised that the killing was not purely defensive. The case remained at the manslaughter level, with no murder conviction. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman gets four-year jail term for killing violent alcoholic boyfriend. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Pukas at The Malthouse, Roscrea on November 20, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted

When:

Why: Following this, he said he would suspend part of the sentence in order to encourage rehabilitation. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed accused

Accused

Charges: murdering Mr Pukas at The Malthouse, Roscrea on November 20, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Acquitted

Outcome: Acquitted; Credit: Collins) A woman who killed her violent alcoholic boyfriend, who she said had made her life "a living hell" and whom she had obtained two safety orders against, has been jailed for four years for manslaughter. Mr Justice Owens then sentenced Ozolina to five years in prison with one year suspended, backdated to May 29, 2019 when she went into custody.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Residence
Secondary Mention
Garda Station
  • to go to Roscrea Garda Station
  • Roscrea
  • chased' to the garda station

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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