The Sligo Champion

Natalia (30) was strangled

- By SORCHA CROWLEY

SLIGO Coroner’s Court has returned a verdict of death by unlawful killing in the inquest into the death of Polish woman Natalia Karaczyn (30) in Sligo town last April.

Coroner Eamon McGowan opened and adjourned the inquest until after the conclusion of the criminal investigat­ion into her death.

The murder victim’s husband Rafal Karaczyn (32) remains in custody charged with murdering his wife at their home on Sunday 29 th April. Her body was recovered on the Holy Well Road near Lough Gill on Tuesday 2nd May.

At Sligo Coroner’s Court yesterday (Monday) Superinten­dent Ray McMahon told the Coroner that Natalia was first reported missing from her home in Crozon Park by her sister on 29 th April 2018.

A Garda investigat­ion began, involving examinatio­n of CCTV footage and other forms of enquiries, a hundred statements and many forensic samples.

“One person has been arrested and following the direction of the DPP, has been charged with her murder and is in custody,” he told the court.

He applied for an adjournmen­t of the inquest.

Mr McGowan read out the Deputy State Pathologis­t, Dr Linda Mulligan’s report, which said there was “evidence of bruising of the hyoid bone in her left neck along her jawline.

Dr Mulligan found the mother-of-three sustained injuries that were consistent with “external pressure on the neck.”

Considerin­g the pattern of bruising, she concluded the victim died from “manual strangulat­ion” and “no other contributo­ry factors.”

Coroner McGowan said: “I wish to bring in a verdict of death by unlawful killing” and adjourned the case until the criminal investigat­ion was over.

 ??  ?? Murder accused Rafal Karacyzn leaving Sligo District Court after being charged with his wife’s murder. Pic: Donal Hackett
Murder accused Rafal Karacyzn leaving Sligo District Court after being charged with his wife’s murder. Pic: Donal Hackett
 ??  ?? Rafal Karacyzn centre with his late wife Natalia and two of their three children.
Rafal Karacyzn centre with his late wife Natalia and two of their three children.

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