Courts / Sligo / Report

Husband described lying down beside wife's body after strangling her, witness tells murder trial

Date
2021-05-07

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Sligo

County
Sligo

Summary

A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that the accused man described lying beside his wife's body for ten to fifteen minutes after strangling her with his bare hands. Magdalena McMorrow, the victim's sister, told the court that Rafal Karaczyn made this admission at Ballymote Garda Station four days after Natalia Karaczyn's death in May 2018. Ms McMorrow said the accused initially gave her false accounts, claiming not to know what had happened to his wife and later alleging involvement by a Traveller family. The witness described searching for her sister on the morning she went missing and the accused's anxious behaviour during that search. Karaczyn, aged thirty-five, of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial heard evidence that Natalia had been with another man the night before her death. The case continues before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Husband described lying down beside wife's body after strangling her, witness tells murder trial. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old wife Natalia Karaczyn at their family home in Crozon Park between April 29th, 2018 and May 1st, 2018. Procedural stage: trial

When:

April 29th, 2018 Other
May 1st, 2018 Other
2021-05-07 Publication

Why: The witness said: "I advised him to move out because I thought that would be the better option but he said he won't because he wants to make it work and he won't leave her. CNI source report

Case subjects

Magdalena McMorrow

Accused

Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old wife Natalia Karaczyn at their family home in Crozon Park between April 29th, 2018 and May 1st, 2018 (Alleged Or Contested)

Rafal Karaczyn

Defendant

Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old wife Natalia Karaczyn at their family home in Crozon Park between April 29th, 2018 and May 1st, 2018 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty