Woman to be sentenced for staging housemate's suicide

A woman has been convicted of impeding the prosecution of her boyfriend for murder by staging her housemate's death as suicide. The 34-year-old defendant, Egita Jaunmaize, was found guilty by majority verdict at the Central Criminal Court of assisting an offender following the death of Antra Ozolina at their home in Kilnaleck, County Cavan in June 2014. The jury rejected her defence of duress. Garda evidence indicated that Ms Ozolina's employer alerted police to inconsistencies in the apparent suicide, prompting a forensic examination that revealed blunt force trauma. The defendant admitted placing a cord around the deceased's neck on her boyfriend's instruction after witnessing the fatal assault. Her barrister cited her history of abuse and childhood trauma during mitigation. The killer sustained severe brain injury during a subsequent car hijacking and pursuit in County Longford and was never charged. Sentencing is to follow.