Pedro Cifali jailed for 16 years for attempted murder of former partner

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Pedro Cifali (39), a Brazilian with a former address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, has been jailed for 16 years, with a further 12 months suspended on condition that he engage with the probation services, for the attempted murder of his former partner, Lucia Nezbalova (43). He had pleaded guilty. The sentence is backdated to May 15th, 2024, when he first went into custody.

Justice Eileen Creedon, at the Central Criminal Court, set a headline sentence of 20 years before considering mitigation. The most significant mitigating factor was Cifali's guilty plea.

The court heard the attack took place at the front door of Nezbalova's home in Garnish Square, Waterville, Dublin 15, on May 10th, 2024. Cifali told her he just wanted to talk before pulling out a knife and stabbing her. The judge noted that he stabbed her in the neck, behind the ear, in the back of the head, in the stomach and in the arms. Doctors described her injuries as life-threatening.

Detective Sergeant Mark Murphy told the court the relationship ended in April 2024 and that Cifali afterwards placed an electronic tag under the bumper of her car. On the day of the attack, CCTV showed him tracking her to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, disguised in a baseball cap and a blonde wig. The judge said part of the motivation for the premeditated attack was jealousy of Nezbalova's new relationship.

Justice Creedon said the attack was unprovoked and has left Nezbalova with restricted movement and post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Her mobility is limited and she requires further surgery.