Gardaí appeal on woman’ death probe

GARDAÍ are checking reports that a man wanted for questioning in connection with the fatal beating of a woman fled over the Border to the North.

Goodwill Udechuckwu, 29, has been missing since last Tuesday when he walked out of an apartment in north Dublin, where his one-time partner Natasha Gray, a mother-of-two, was beaten to death.

Detectives want to speak to him about the death of Ms Gray. Gardaí are keeping an eye on airports and ports, while there is also speculation he may have taken the train to the North.

They have also issued an appeal to the general public and specifically members of the Nigerian community. Mr Udechuckwu, a Nigerian national, is in the process of applying for asylum. He is 6’ 3” tall and 18 stone.

He was only recently released from prison after being held for a year on remand in Clover Hill. He was charged in April last year with assaulting gardaí at a Dublin health board office.

Mr Uduchuckwu walked free from court after being given a six-month suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ms Gray, originally from Jamaica, died after being struck a number of times with a blunt object in the bedroom of her Grand Canal View home in Phibsborough.

The 25-year-old woman was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mater Hospital following the beating on Tuesday afternoon.

Ms Gray’s three children, including her two toddlers, and a friend, were in the apartment. Gardaí have been told that Mr Udechuckwu was in the apartment some time on Tuesday afternoon; that he walked into the living room and said Ms Gray was sleeping and did not want to be disturbed.