UTV News - Polish woman to stand trial for city murder

Subscribe to the News Feed Newsback to News

Polish woman to stand trial for city murder

Text Size:  A  A |  POST A COMMENT |  PRINT |  SHARE 
Polish woman to stand trial
A Polish woman is to stand trial charged with the murder of her husband in north Belfast.

Teresa Rafacz, 29, is accused of killing Piotr Rafacz, whose body was discovered at their flat on the Cliftonville Road last July.

Her brother Pawel Czop, 26, of Clifton Crescent in the city, is charged with withholding information in relation to the alleged attack.

He is accused of failing to disclose that he saw the murder suspect kick her husband about the head.

The victim, also a Polish national, was found dead at the home the couple shared with their young son.

During a preliminary enquiry hearing at Belfast Magistrates Court Teresa Rafacz, with an address now at Glenvarlock Street, and Czop declined to say anything in answer to the charges against them.

A Public Prosecution Service representative said there was a prima facie case to answer and sought to have them both sent for Crown Court trial.

His request was granted by District Judge Harry McKibbin, who remanded the pair on continuing bail until a date for the hearing is fixed.

Due to the seriousness of the case, and language difficulties, he also granted defence lawyer Pat Kelly's application for two barristers to represent the accused.

At a previous hearing, the court was told Rafacz denied murdering her husband.

She was said to have come to Northern Ireland alone, with her husband and child joining her at a later stage.

Rafacz was described at that stage as the sole bread winner in the family as her husband suffered from epilepsy brought on by heavy drinking.

However, police disputed the suggestion that his injuries were only due to a fall he was said to have suffered.

© UTV News

Send to a friend

Email To
Your Name
Comment
Close
Comments
0 Comments
Be the first to comment
Post a comment
Name:
Email Address:
Location:
Your Comment:
Verification Code: Captcha Code  Get New Code
POST COMMENT
[Before posting, please take a moment to familiarise yourself with our house rules. All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Any information you enter, including email and web addresses, will be displayed on our site if passed by our moderators.]