RITA’S PARTNER CHARGED WITH HER MURDER
Man, 31, appears in court accused of killing mum
A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of his partner.
Renars Veigulis, 31, is accused of killing 29-year-old Rita Apine in Kilkenny last Sunday. The mum of one was found with head injuries at her home and died in hospital. Latvian Veigulis was arrested hours after the tragedy but released. After yesterday’s hearing he was remanded in custody.
THE partner of a mum who was fatally injured in her home was remanded in custody yesterday.
Renars Veigulis, 31, is accused of murdering 29-year-old Rita Apine in Freshford, Co Kilkenny, last Sunday. The Latvian was initially arrested on the afternoon of Ms Apine’s death but released without charge on Monday night. He was taken back into custody on Friday and questioned at Kilkenny Garda station before being charged on Saturday night. Veigulis was brought by unmarked Garda car to the courthouse in the city for a special sitting of the district court. Wearing dark jeans and a grey jumper, the defendant was taken into the chamber at about 11.10am and spoke with his sister before the proceedings began. During the hearing Detective Sgt Sean O’meara told the court he formally arrested the accused at 8.32pm on Saturday and charged him. After caution, Veigulis replied “No”. Defence solicitor Tony Collier said given the nature of the charge, there would be no application for bail but he did request legal aid which was granted. Mr Collier added: “He’s not in a position to work at the moment.” Inspector Joe Carton applied to the court for the accused to be remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court on May 26. Mr Collier said this was by consent. Judge Colin Daly remanded the accused in custody to appear again on that date. Several gardai, both uniformed and in plain clothes, were present in the courtroom for the hearing. Among those officers attending was Detective Superintendent Michael Hennebry who is the senior detective for the south east region. Originally from Latvia, Rita Apine lived at St Teresa’s Terrace in Kilkenny city for some time before moving with her young daughter to rented accommodation at Bridge Street in Freshford late last year. Her death caused shock among her friends and also in the north Kilkenny village, where many local people spoke of often seeing her walking with her daughter. She was found with head injuries at the bottom of the stairs at her home at about midday. Ms Apine was treated on the footpath outside by paramedics after the emergency services were alerted. She was then taken to St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny but she later died. A memorial service was organised by friends and locals at the church in Loughboy, Kilkenny, yesterday. And hundreds of people attended a candlelit vigil in memory of Ms Apine in Freshford on Thursday night.