Courts / Meath / Report

Woman who killed partner claimed she would've been 'battered' if she didn't pick up knife

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Sandaraite, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for stabbing her partner, Zbigniew Czech, 47, to death on 10 December 2022 at their Academy Street apartment. She claimed that if she had not taken a knife, she would have been "battered" and that she felt free after the killing. The court heard that the couple's relationship, lasting about three years, was marked by excessive alcohol consumption and 24 complaints of violent behaviour from both sides. Sandaraite said Czech had become aggressive after drinking vodka, grabbed her arms, and she armed herself with a knife, cutting him before he fled. A pathology report identified a stab wound to the upper left chest causing a major pulmonary injury, leading to his death. The prosecution accepted her plea of manslaughter, and the case was adjourned for sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman who killed partner claimed she would've been 'battered' if she didn't pick up knife. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• December 10, 2022 Other
• 2024-07-23 Publication

Why: Sandaraite initially told gardaí that she had lost her job and family because of Mr Czech and that she had "no tears. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report