Lithuanian charged with murdering Latvian

A Lithuanian man appeared before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court yesterday charged with the murder of a Latvian man in Co Laois at the weekend.

Deivydas Zigelis (36) with an address at Spa Street, Portarlington, was charged with the murder of Alexander Karpov (26) in Portarlington on Saturday.

Det Garda Barry McPaul arrested and cautioned the defendant at Portlaoise Garda station at 2.01pm yesterday. Det McPaul said that after he had been cautioned the defendant answered: "No, I already gave my explanation to the guards in interview, I killed that man." When subsequently charged with murder and cautioned at 2.35pm, Mr Zigelis responded: "No reply, everything has already been said."

Insp Kieran Keyes applied to have the defendant remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison.

Solicitor Declan Breen consented to the remand and sought legal aid. He also applied to have an interpreter present for court appearances and prison visits. The court was told Mr Zigelis worked as a binman in Naas and earned about €450 a week.

Acknowledging the fact that the defendant would not now be working, Judge Catherine Staines granted legal aid and approved the request for an interpreter. She remanded the defendant in custody to reappear before Cloverhill District Court on Thursday.