"One of life's victims" jailed for three years for staging housemate's suicide

A 34-year-old woman has been sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of her housemate's killer. Egita Jaunmaize, of no fixed abode, was convicted of placing a cord around the neck of Antra Ozolina, a 49-year-old fellow Latvian, to simulate suicide and obstruct the investigation into her death. The offence occurred at their home at The Old Post, Main Street, Kilnaleck, County Cavan on or about 27 or 28 June 2014. Ms Jaunmaize admitted she acted under duress following the strangulation of Ms Ozolina by her boyfriend, whom the judge described as the murderer. However, that man was never charged, subsequently suffering severe brain injury during a car chase across County Longford in October 2014. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the sentence having regard to Ms Jaunmaize's abusive relationship with the killer, her vulnerability, post-traumatic stress disorder, and her status as a victim of childhood violence. The sentence was backdated to 22 February 2017.