Hunt for Nigerian as former partner found beaten to death
Detectives are searching for Nigerian-born Goodwill Udechuckwu, 29, in connection with the murder of his former partner. Udechuckwu was released from Cloverhill Prison on Friday.
The badly beaten body of Natasha Gray, 25, was found in a flat at Royal Canal View, Phibsborough in Dublin yesterday afternoon by a friend. She was beaten to death with a hammer. Her two children, both under four, were also in the flat at the time.
The friend told gardaí that Udechuckwu walked into the living room of the apartment shortly after 1pm and said Ms Gray was sleeping and should not be disturbed. He then walked out of the apartment.
An hour later the friend went into the bedroom and found the Jamaican woman dying in her bed. She told gardaí she did not hear a struggle.
An ambulance crew attempted to revive her but she was pronounced dead on arrival at nearby Mater Hospital.
Mr Udechuckwu has been resident in Ireland since 2001. He is six feet and of strong build and also uses the name James or Issac Udechuckwu.
A asylum seeker, he has just been released from prison. He had been on remand in Clover Hill after being charged with assaulting gardaí last April. He was given a six month suspended sentence.
Ms Gray has lived in Ireland for around five years and both her children were born here. They are being cared for by her sister who is also living in Dublin.
Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at 01 - 666 8600.
