Laois man accused of murdering his wife sent forward for trial

THE man accused of murdering his wife in Portlaoise was sent forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court of Justice in Dublin when he appeared at the local district court last week.

Garda Murray gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on Eugen Constantin (72), 25 Church Street, Portlaoise.

He is charged with the murder of his wife Adina Raluca Constantin at their address on Sunday 5 July.   Garda Sgt Kirby said that the director of public prosecutions (DPP) had directed that the accused be sent forward for trial on one count of murder, on a guilty plea, if it so arises, and to be prosecuted on indictment.  In sending Mr Constantin forward to the present sitting of the Central Criminal Court, Judge Andrew Gubbins gave Mr Constantin an alibi warning, instructing him that he must notify gardaí in writing within 14 days if he wished to rely on an alibi in his defence.

He went on to remand the accused in custody with consent to bail.

Solicitor Brian Duffy applied for free legal aid to include a junior and senior counsel, for the book of evidence to be translated into Romanian and for a Romanian interpreter to assist Mr Constantin during his consultations and at his trial.

Judge Gubbins agreed to the application.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.