A man was remanded in custody after being charged with the murder of mum Skaidrite Valdgeima who was allegedly stabbed to death in a Dublin city centre apartment.
The 34-year-old from Latvia, but who lived with her husband in the Deerpark Walk estate in Blessington, Co Wicklow, died on Wednesday.
She received a number of injuries in an apartment in the Binary Hub, a student accommodation building, on Bonham Street, Dublin, at around 3.40am and was taken to St James’s Hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
Valerijs Leitons, also a Latvian national, was arrested and detained in Kevin Street Garda station.
The 22-year-old was brought to appear before Judge John Cheatle at Dublin District Court on Thursday.
Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Det Inspt David Harrington.
He said Leitons was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ms Valdgeima and charged at 10.08pm on Thursday.
He made no reply when arrested or when charged, the court was told. An interpreter was present for the procedures in the station, the court heard.
The defendant, dressed in a grey sweater, navy tracksuit bottoms and runners, sat silently on a bench at the side of the courtroom.
The thumb of his right hand was bandaged.
He listened to proceedings with the assistance of a translator however, he did not address the court.
The district court cannot adjudicate on bail in murder cases meaning he will have to bring an application before the High Court if he wants to get released pending his trial. Judge Cheatle acceded to a request from defence counsel Eamonn O’Moore to ask for medical attention “including psychiatric assistance” for the Leitons while in custody.
Leitons, of St Kevin’s Gardens, Darty, Dublin, has not indicated how he will plead and was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Friday.
Legal aid was granted after the court heard he was in receipt of disability allowance.
