Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in Londonderry flat fire death

Ciaran Murray, 30, admitted killing 65-year-old Spanish national Montserrat Martorell, whose body was found in a Derry flat after a fire in August 2024.

Londonderry man admits killing woman found dead after flat blaze

A 30-year-old man has admitted to killing a woman whose body was discovered in a ground-floor flat in Derry following a fire at the property, ca.news.yahoo.com reports.

Ciaran Edward Murray, of Malvern Terrace in the Waterside area of Londonderry, is charged with the murder of 65-year-old Montserrat Martorell, a Spanish national. Her body was found in a flat in the Harvey Street area of Derry on 24 August 2024.

Appearing via video link before Belfast Crown Court on Friday, Murray entered his response when the murder charge was put to him: "Not guilty, but guilty to manslaughter."

The prosecution lawyer told the court he had instructions to proceed with the murder case. A defence lawyer said a psychologist was scheduled to examine Murray in late October, and added that the accused had directed the defence "at this first opportunity, to apologise to the family of the deceased for his actions."

Prosecution counsel Simon Reid KC said he would have a clinical psychologist for the prosecution on standby once the defence's psychological report was delivered.

Mr Justice Fowler said the case would be listed in November for an update on the progress of the medical report.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)