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Romanian who murdered his ex-girlfriend fails in conviction appeal
Summary
Mihalache Marian, 53, was convicted of murdering his ex‑girlfriend Loradena Pricajan in a Sandyford hotel room on 27 January 2010. He pleaded not guilty, claiming Pricajan had committed suicide after an alleged injury that left him unconscious. The court found the suicide claim "infinitely unlikely" and cited circumstantial evidence, including a timeline of their relationship and recorded phone conversations, to support the jury's guilty verdict. Marian received a mandatory life sentence on 28 January 2010. On 12 February 2015 he appealed to the Court of Appeal on the ground that the jury's verdict was perverse and not supported by the evidence. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Seán Ryan, dismissed the appeal, upholding the conviction and sentence. The appeal was based solely on the jury's verdict and the weight of evidence presented. The case remains at the appellate level with no further changes to the conviction or sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Romanian who murdered his ex-girlfriend fails in conviction appeal. Charges or matters: the murder of his ex-girlfriend Loradena Pricajan in a bedroom at the Irish Management Institute in Sandyford on January 27, 2010. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 27, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 28, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2010 Other
- January 25 Other
- January 27 Other
- January 28 Other
- Christmas Eve 2009 Other
- Christmas Day Other
- Christmas Other
- new year Other
- 2015-02-12 Publication
Why: Mr Justice Ryan said the prosecution's case was that the relationship was either at an end or severely threatened because of Ms Pricajan's new boyfriend. Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the murder of his ex-girlfriend Loradena Pricajan in a bedroom at the Irish Management Institute in Sandyford on January 27, 2010 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A jury at the Central Criminal Court found Marian guilty and he was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on January 28, 2010.
Places mentioned
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