Man pleads not guilty to murdering sister

A 26-year-old antheral volition spell connected proceedings aft helium pleaded not blameworthy to murdering his sister and trying to termination her young daughter.

Kornelijus Bracas, of Tresna Walk, Randalstown, appeared astatine Belfast Crown Court connected Friday facing a full of 4 charges which were allegedly committed connected the aforesaid date.

Dressed successful grey tracksuit and accompanied by a court-appointed interpreter, Mr Bracas replied "no'' erstwhile the complaint was enactment to him of murdering Alesia Nazarova, which was aggravated by the engagement of home abuse.

Mr Bracas replied "not guilty'' to attempting to execution his 12-year-old niece.

The defendant, who is primitively from Lithuania, further denied charges of arson being reckless arsenic to whether beingness would beryllium endangered and the theft of a slope paper belonging to his 37-year-old sister.

Ms Nazarova, a mother-of-one, was recovered dormant pursuing a location occurrence successful Church Street successful Portadown, County Armagh, connected 21 March 2023.

She shared the location with her girl and Mr Bracas.

It was reported astatine the time that she had lone precocious moved to Northern Ireland from eastbound Europe.

Her girl was taken from the country for attraction successful infirmary but was subsequently discharged into the attraction of relatives.

A defence barrister told Mr Justice O'Hara helium required 3 weeks to lodge a defence connection with the tribunal arsenic helium required a further consultation with Mr Bracas successful HMP Maghaberry to "clarify a fig of matters''.

He said helium was trying to get a advisor psychiatrist from the University of Salford to "assess what was the defendant's authorities of caput astatine worldly time''.

A prosecution barrister asked the tribunal to acceptable a day for the proceedings successful the caller year, which helium said would past up to 2 weeks.

Mr Justice O'Hara said helium would reappraisal advancement successful the lawsuit connected 29 November and acceptable a proceedings day for 3 March.

Mr Bracas was remanded backmost into custody.