Preliminary postmortem results are still awaited as gardai continue their investigation in to the death of Brazilian national Bruna Fonseca who was found dead in a flat in Cork city on New Year's Day.
Miller Pacheco (29) of Formiga, Brazil is charged with the murder of Ms Fonseca at Liberty Street, Cork on January 1 contrary to Common Law. He was first charged in connection with the death of Ms Fonseca (28) on January 2 last.
Mr Pacheco appeared before Cork District Court via video link from prison this morning. He required the assistance of a Portuguese interpreter for the short hearing.
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Sgt John Kelleher told the court that gardai were still waiting on preliminary postmortem results in order to advance their investigation in to the death of of Ms Fonseca.
"The file is progressing. Postmortem results are awaited. That is one of the things we are waiting for. "
Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said that he was 'surprised' at the delay in the receipt of the results.
"The matter has now been in existence for three and a half months. I am surprised that the results of the postmortem would not be available by now."
Judge Olann Kelleher remanded Mr Pacheco in custody until his next court appearance on on April 26 next. However, he added that he expected to be informed of the reason for the delay in the post mortem results.
The court previously directed that the accused receive all appropriate medical attention in Cork Prison. Free legal aid was also granted in the case. Mr Pacheco was previously refused bail in the High Court.
Ms Fonseca was a native of Formiga in Minas Gerais, Brazil. She was a qualified librarian and graduated from the Centro Universitario de Formiga in 2018.
She moved to Cork in September of last year (2022) and was working as a contract cleaner in the Mercy University Hospital. Her aim was to further improve her English.
A postmortem was carried out on Ms Fonseca at Cork University Hospital by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. It confirmed that she died violently.
Meanwhile, in excess of €50,000 was raised after her Cork based cousin and a niece set up a GoFundMe page in order to repatriate her body to her native country.
Ms Fonseca was buried in Formiga on January 16 last. She is survived by her parents Tadeu Jose Fonseca and Marina Dos Reis Palharares Fonseca and her sister Izabel.
Following the death of Bruna members of the Brazilian community organised a vigil at the Lough in Cork.
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