Breaking: Murdered Japanese woman’s ex-husband arrested
A 43-year-old Irish citizen has been arrested on suspicion of premeditated murder of his ex-wife, a Japanese woman, in Budapest’s 5th district. The tragic incident has left two children, a seven-year-old girl and a ten-year-old boy, orphaned and temporarily placed in foster care.
Details of the case
The case took a significant turn after initial investigations. On 29 January, authorities responded to a fire in an apartment on Stollár Béla Street, Budapest, where they discovered a charred female body. While preliminary examinations suggested the fire was caused by smoking in bed, suspicions arose about the true nature of the incident.
Investigation developments
- CCTV footage analysis: Revealed discrepancies in the suspect’s account of his movements on the day of the fire.
- Forensic examination: A subsequent autopsy found signs of struggle and abuse on the victim’s body, contradicting earlier medical opinions.
- Suspect’s actions: The Irish man allegedly disguised himself, returned to the apartment after taking his daughter to the pool, committed the murder, and then returned again to call emergency services.
Legal proceedings
The court has ordered the detention of the Irish man, 24.hu reports. According to Ferenc Rab, deputy spokesperson for the Budapest Chief Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect has not admitted guilt and has not provided a detailed statement. The suspect and his defence attorney have appealed the decision, making the ruling non-final. József Szabó, spokesperson for the Budapest Metropolitan Court, stated that the detention was ordered due to the risk of flight, hiding, and potential repeat offences.
Background
The Patent Association, citing friends of the Japanese woman, reported that the victim had never smoked and had been living in fear of her husband. She had previously filed complaints about harassment, but these were allegedly not addressed by the police. The Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) has initiated an investigation to determine why the woman’s earlier complaints were dismissed.
Related articles:
- Ex-husband charged with Japanese woman’s murder in Budapest: Arson, death list, and a chilling history of threats
- Japanese woman’s death in Budapest: Police apologise for insensitive handling of domestic violence case
- Japanese mother killed by her ex-husband in a downtown apartment fire in Budapest – UPDATE
- Abused Japanese woman dies in Budapest apartment fire: suspicious circumstances emerge – UPDATE with police reaction