A butcher has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his girlfriend with his meat-boning knife in Roscommon last year.
Amilton Leonel De Olivera (37) a Brazilian national with an address at Lanesborough Street, Roscommon town, pleaded guilty this morning to murdering Kezia Gomes Rosa on August 19th, 2008 at a house on Lanesborough Street.
Detective Inspector Pat Finlay told the Central Criminal Court that Ms Rosa, a 31-year-old mother-of-one, came to Ireland on a holiday visa in late 2006 and worked in a meat factory in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon before moving across the county to Roscommon town.
She met her killer in early 2007; they formed a relationship and began sharing a flat in the town. De Olivera, a father-of-one, worked as a boner in a meat factory there and Ms Rosa worked casually.
Det Insp Finlay said that on August 18th of last year, Ms Rosa had to leave the flat as there had been difficulties between them. She sought shelter in the nearby house of her boyfriend's cousin, Valdivino De Morais.
He said that De Olivera went to his cousin's house that evening but was not admitted. Ms Rosa refused to return home with him and Mr De Morais told him to leave.
The court heard that De Olivera stayed around the house throughout the following day and that evening asked to go inside to speak to the deceased. At 7pm, after consulting Ms Gomes Rosa, Mr De Morais allowed his cousin inside.
The inspector said that the couple went into the kitchen and began a discussion. Moments later, Mr De Morais heard screaming and Ms Rosa crying for help.
He went in and saw her sitting in a chair with a knife in her chest and De Olivera standing over her. De Olivera removed the knife and ran out of the house, discarding it in shrubbery outside.
Ms Rosa managed to move to the hall, but collapsed and died of a single stab wound to the heart.
The court heard that De Olivera had brought the extremely sharp, nine-inch
boning knife with him from his flat that evening. He carried it in his
waistband, having wrapped it in tissue so as not to hurt himself.
The inspector said the killer's cousin identified him to gardai shortly after the stabbing. De Olivera was arrested at 7.35pm and admitted the killing throughout all five interviews, during which he was tearful.
Mr Justice Paul Carney imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to
August 19th of last year.