Courts / Meath / Report
Murder accused will admit he strangled partner
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 2 July 2024, a 36‑year‑old Romanian man, Andrei Dobra, was on trial for the murder of his partner, Ioana Mihaela Pacala, aged 30. The prosecution, led by Sean Guerin SC, presented evidence that Dobra strangled Pacala on 12 November 2022 at their duplex in Ratoath, County Meath. A phone call on that day had Dobra telling a woman he believed he had killed Pacala, prompting emergency services to arrive. The body was found in a bedroom; the State Pathologist confirmed strangulation as the cause of death. Dobra pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and two psychiatrists—one for the defence, one for the prosecution—were to testify that he suffered a mental disorder at the time of the killing. The trial was overseen by Justice Melanie Greally with a jury of six men and six women.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murder accused will admit he strangled partner. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- November 12, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-07-02 Publication
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