A Ukrainian has been remanded for sentence next Monday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after admitting his role in what became known as "the body in the suitcase" crime.
Dmytro Semenyuk (26), also known as Valintins Korelovs, with an address in Mountjoy Square, Dublin, pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Adrian Bestea and assault causing him harm in Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 8th, 2001. Judge Michael White remanded him in custody.
The body of Mr Bestea, a Romanian aged 21, was recovered in a suitcase from the Royal Canal on July 20th, 2001.
His girlfriend, Marina Sourovtzeva (31), of Strand Road, Sandymount, was jailed for two years last July by Judge Yvonne Murphy after she pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning the victim and assault causing him harm on the same occasion.
Mr Anthony Sammon, defending, submitted it might be "more efficient" to have Judge Murphy sentence Semenyuk, considering she had already dealt with Sourovtzeva and was familiar with the case.
Mr Sammon said Semenyuk had been in custody for 18 months and, as it was not contested by the prosecution that he had played "a lesser role" in the crime, he had already served his sentence.