The Central Criminal Court learned that a security guard who confessed to strangling his partner to death appeared “emotionless, void of emotion and aloof” when officers arrived at his abode in County Meath. The trial of the accused, Andrei Dobra, began on Tuesday with his defence solicitor, Michael Bowman SC, clarifying that his client’s admission of guilt was meant to “lessen the strain” on the state.
Mr Dobra (36) has denied guilt via a plea of insanity for the murder of Ioana Mihaela Pacala (30), which took place at their residence on Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, Riverwalk Court on the 12th of November 2022.
Roxana Devan spoke to Carl Hanahoe BL representing the prosecution, about her acquaintance with Mr. Dobra for numerous years via her former partner. She stated that Mr. Dobra was employed at Cappagh Hospital and also worked as a security guard in Temple Bar.
Ms Devan revealed that the couple had relocated to their current house three weeks prior to Ms Pacala’s unfortunate demise and Mr Dobra had been dealing with stress in the days preceding the incident. She also mentioned that the pair had been hearing peculiar sounds in their apartment, such as a potential unknown presence.
She took Mr Dobra to a doctor a few days before the tragic event as he was expressing symptoms of depression and general malaise. A day before the murder, Ms Devan observed that Mr. Dobra was excessively sweating, acting oddly and remained largely silent.
On the day of the incident, Ms Devan received a distressing call from Ms Pacala’s relatives in Romania, who suggested she was unconscious and proposed an ambulance be sent to their home. Upon contacting the emergency services, she called Mr Dobra. She stated her wish to speak to Ms Pacala, but Mr Dobra informed her that was unlikely as he believed she was dead. Furthermore, he shared that he envisioned killing Ms Pacala in a dream and woke to find her lifeless.
During cross-questioning, Ms Devan acknowledged that Mr Dobra’s behaviour seemed off for about a week prior to the incident, something she hadn’t observed previously. She noted, “He appeared strange and not his usual self.”
When the emergency call came in from Ms Devan, Officer Michael Fitzpatrick was the first to arrive at the scene where Mr Dobra waited in his flat. Upon entering, Fitzpatrick was met with a sight of a deeply stoic Dobra at the top of the stairs, showing no immediate signs of distress or emotion.
Guided by Mr Dobra, Officer Fitzpatrick was led into the bedroom wherein lay Ms Pacala, tragically deceased. Despite the gruiness of the scene, Dobra remained entirely cooperative, accepting the situation with a disturbing lack of emotion or shock, observed Fitzpatrick.
When probed about the incident, Dobra shared with Officer Fitzpatrick, “She had me take these tablets and I don’t recall anything after”.
Detective Sergeant Shane Dervin, during his brief to Sean Guerin SC, the prosecutor, commented on noticeable red rope-like marks on Dobra’s neck, identified by an officer at the scene. Upon inquiry, Dobra’s response was simply, “Making love.”
Dr Margaret Bolster, a pathologist, carried out an examination of the victim’s body. Her findings suggested the cause of death to be asphyxia and strangulation. Bruises present on the neck had characteristics indicating the use of a ligature or arm lock as well as possible hands-on strangulation. Moreover, there were evident signs of scratches likely due to Ms Pacala’s desperate attempts to relieve the bearing pressure during the course of strangulation.
Mr Guerin, during his opening statement, informed the jury of two psychiatrists, representing the defence and prosecution, that are set to testify, submitting that Dobra was in the grips of a mental disorder at the time of the murder.
Highlighting his plea, Guerin stated that Dobra claims he was dangerously overwhelmed by an irrépressible urge or devoid of any rationale, circumstances he believes warrants him a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Justice Melanie Greally and a jury will preside over the trial as it resumes.