Scotland Yard helps gardaí probe ‘ritualistic’ killing

Neans McSweeney

Paiche Onyemaechi’s headless body was found propped against a tree under a bridge in south Kilkenny 10 days ago. She had been reported missing on July 8 by her husband.

Concern is growing for her 31-year-old Nigerian husband, Chika, who went missing after leaving the couple’s two children with a neighbour.

He had promised to return several hours later but did not. There were further concerns when the hotel worker did not attend his wife’s funeral in Waterford last Friday.

The couple’s sons, three year-old Andrew, and 18-month-old, Anthony, were carried into the funeral service by Paiche’s brother, Leon, and his wife, Thoko.

Lands around Piltown in south Kilkenny have been searched for the dead woman’s head. Carpets and other floor coverings have been removed from the couple’s two-storey terraced home at St Herblain Park in Waterford city for forensic examination. Their blue Fiat car has also been technically examined.

Gardaí from Clonmel and Waterford investigating the case have declined to comment on speculation that the Malawi woman and daughter of the country’s chief justice, Leonard Unyolo, could be Ireland’s first voodoo victim.

They have refused to be drawn on claims that both Paiche and her husband came from African communities with deeply-rooted beliefs in witchcraft and voodoo. Severing and stealing of body parts, particularly heads, is an integral part of such killings.