A 26-year-old man has appeared before a Belfast court charged with the murder of Geila Ibram in Limerick city.
Ms Ibram, a 27-year-old woman from Romania, was found dead at a residence on Dock Road in Limerick on Tuesday.
Habib Shamel, an Afghan national, appeared before court via video-link charged with her murder.
The court heard he had been in Ireland since October 2022, and had applied for asylum.
Christmas TV and movie guide: the best shows and films to watch
Laura Kennedy: We like the ideal of Christmas. The reality, though, is often strained, sad and weird
How Britain’s prison system is teetering on the brink of collapse
Fostering at Christmas: ‘We once had two boys, age 9 and 11, who had never had a Christmas tree’
When asked whether he understood the charge against him, he confirmed through an interpreter that he did.
A detective sergeant told the court that Ms Ibram had been stabbed “numerous times” and that the attack resulted in the defendant injuring his hand.
The detective said that evidence gathered shows a conversation between the defendant and the victim, between 11.20am and 12.40pm on April 4th, which was “arranging a sexual exchange”.
At the end of the conversation, the victim provided her address, the court heard.
The detective said that CCTV footage shows the defendant entering the flat just before 1.30pm, and leaving “approximately one minute 52 seconds later”.
He said that the victim was stabbed numerous times in the neck, face and abdomen during this period, in what the court heard was a “vicious and frenzied attack”.
The detective said the defendant made attempts to try to treat his hand, including attending Limerick University Hospital.
On April 5th, he arrived in Belfast after travelling by bus with a friend before being arrested on April 6th.
The detective said the defendant made “numerous admissions” during his interview with police about “his actions within the flat”, his injured hand and his travel to Belfast.
When charged by police, the court heard that the defendant replied “I’ve said everything”.
Mr Shamel’s legal team argued that he should be granted bail, telling the court that the prison service would not be able to accommodate his religious requests and that there were concerns for his mental health.
The district judge refused the defendant bail, calling the charge “a very grave offence” and there being “far too high” a flight risk or risk of further offending.
Legal aid was granted and he is next due to appear before court via video-link on May 2nd.
The charge is contrary to common law and section one of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975.
Under that legislation, it is understood that the justice process can take place in Northern Ireland if a suspect has fled from a different jurisdiction where a serious criminal offence has taken place. – PA