Rafal Karaczyn pleads not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter

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

Rafal Karaczyn pleaded not guilty to murdering Natalia Karaczyn but guilty to her manslaughter. The proceedings at the Central Criminal Court were reported on 11 March 2020. The alleged killing occurred at their family home in Crozon Park, Sligo, between 29 April and 1 May 2018.

His friend Piotr Korsak told the jury that Karaczyn appeared depressed and mentally devastated before Natalia’s death, and that he feared Karaczyn might harm himself. Korsak said he offered Karaczyn a place to stay away from trouble, but Karaczyn wanted to wait until after his son’s First Holy Communion.

The jury also heard about translations of words Karaczyn used in a Garda interview concerning Natalia’s strangulation. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sent the jury home and told them to return the following day for closing speeches.