Man laughed when telling of killing

A man who strangled a 23-year-old Albanian woman in the bedroom of her Sligo home laughed as he told a friend he had killed her, a jury heard yesterday.

Ms Lindita Kukaj, "a hard working" young woman who had lived for over three years in Sligo, was killed by a fellow Albanian who strangled her with his hands, the Central Criminal Court was told.

The pattern of a necklace the victim was wearing on the night was imprinted on her throat, counsel for the prosecution, Mr John O'Kelly SC, said.

Mr Eduart Kulici (24), with an address at Maltings Apartments, Bonham Street, Dublin, is pleading not guilty to the murder of the woman at her flat on Wolfe Tone Street, Sligo, on February 22nd, 2003.

The chief prosecution witness, Mr Bashkim Osaj, originally from Kosovo, who travelled from Dublin to Sligo with the accused the day before the murder, said Mr Kulici told him he had killed Ms Kukaj because "the f...ing bitch was annoying me all night". The trial continues.