Courts / Tipperary / Report

Domestic abuse victim's conviction for killing violent boyfriend is upheld

Summary

Inga Ozolina, aged 48, was convicted of manslaughter for killing her violent alcoholic boyfriend, Audrius Pukas, 40, in Roscrea on 20 November 2016. Ozolina claimed she acted in self‑defence after Pukas had pulled her hair, pushed her to the floor, and began hitting and biting her. She had previously obtained two safety orders against him, which had lapsed. During the Central Criminal Court trial, photographs of her injuries, including bite marks, were shown to the jury. Ozolina was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, rejecting her appeal that the Garda interview evidence was unreliable. The appeal court dismissed the appeal, confirming the trial judge's decision that the evidence was admissible and reliable. The case remains at the manslaughter conviction stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Domestic abuse victim's conviction for killing violent boyfriend is upheld. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• May 29, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 20, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-05-01 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report