The murder case of Sophie Watson, a 57-year-old woman found lifeless in her Co Derry home, has led to the suspect being held in custody. Watson was discovered at her residence in Ashgrove Park, Magherafelt in a lifeless state on a Sunday afternoon, having endured multiple knife injuries. Andrzej Pajaczkowski, a 43-year-old fellow resident of Ashgrove Park, answered to the charges via video link from Musgrave PSNI station in Belfast in front of a district judge on Wednesday morning. The Polish national donned a grey prison uniform while briefly speaking to confirm his identity and acknowledgement of the charge.
The trial, held in Derry courthouse under Magherafelt Magistrates’ Court, heard Pajaczkowski has resided in Northern Ireland for the past two decades. The accused had the assistance of a Polish interpreter during the hearing. A district detective confirmed to judge Oonagh Mullan that the accused could be linked to the charges.
Pajaczkowski’s defence lawyer, Eoghan McKenna, informed the judge that his client pleaded not guilty when charged. No bail application was made, although the possibility of such a request was left open for future considerations. “Noting the existing police investigations, we also need to explore the dimensions of a potential bail address and I intend to gather some medical findings before moving forward with the bail application,” McKenna added. He also suggested that the case could turn out to be a intricate investigation considering the not guilty plea.
The defendant has been ordered to remain in custody until his next appearance via video link, scheduled for September 18th, at the same court. Investigators have extended their appeal for any relevant information to both the public and the charity Crimestoppers, as they continue probing into Watson’s murder.