Murder accused received solicitor's letter about behaviour

A solicitor’s letter written to a Nigerian man accused of murdering his wife with a lump hammer advised him that she could no longer expect to live with him due to his behaviour, a Detective Garda has told the Central Criminal Court.

Det Garda Adrian Murray was giving evidence today in the trial of Goodwill Udechukwu (aged 32) with a previous address at Royal Canal View, Royal Canal Bank, Phibsboro who denies murdering Natasha Gray (aged 25) at the same address on February 18, 2003.

The body of the mother-of-two was found upside down in a baby’s cot with a lump hammer beside her.

Det Garda Murray told Ms Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, that he went to the flat at Royal Canal View on February 24, 2003 where he said he located a letter from FH O’Reilly solicitors. It was dated February 18.

The witness read from the letter, which was addressed to Goodwill Udechukwu and referred to "our client Natasha Gray". It read: "Because of your behaviour our client can no longer expect to live with you". It asked him to vacate the premises and advised him Ms Gray was seeking legal action.

Under cross-examination by the defence Det Garda Murray was asked about a number of items he had removed from the apartment including clothing which he believed belonged to Mr Udechukwu.

He admitted to Mr Pieter Le Vert BL that the bedroom he had labelled bedroom number 2 on the evidence chart was in fact bedroom number 1, where Ms Gray’s body had been found. He said he had realised his mistake and made an additional statement correcting this.

Asked why he did not take anything from the other bedroom which belonged to Ms Gray’s sister Nicola Curtis and her husband Ian, he said there was nothing in there that he believed belonged to Mr Udechukwu. He admitted some documents and papers may have been taken from that room by another garda.

He said he believed a stain which appeared on the corner of a set of drawers in that bedroom was a coffee stain.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Kevin O’Higgins.