Man accused of fatally stabbing woman during ‘sexual exchange’ to find out if he will stand trial in Belfast

Habib Shamel, 33, remains in custody at HMP Maghaberry charged with murdering Geila Ibram on April 4 last year.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard today that prosecutors hope to be ready for a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) in five weeks time.

Shamel would be informed at that stage if the case against him is to proceed to trial.

Ms Ibram’s mutilated body was discovered at an apartment block in the Dock Road area of Limerick.

Originally from Romania, the 27-year-old victim died from multiple stab wounds inflicted to the neck, face and abdomen in what police described as a vicious and frenzied attack.

Shamel, an Afghani national with an address at Cecil Street in Limerick, was later arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast.

He is charged with Ms Ibram’s murder under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, which allows the PSNI to prosecute in Northern Ireland if a suspect has travelled from another jurisdiction.

A previous court heard claims that he had arranged a “sexual exchange” with the victim on the day she died.

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CCTV footage allegedly showed him arriving at her property and then leaving again less than two minutes later.

Detectives claim he injured his hand during the suspected encounter and attended hospital in Limerick before travelling north by bus.

With the PSNI providing assistance in the murder investigation, a formal International Letter of Request (ILOR) was sent to the Republic of Ireland.

A joint investigation team comprising agencies from both jurisdictions was also set up.

Part of the process also involved setting up a meeting in The Hague, the Dutch city where the International Criminal Court is seated.

With all evidential material now obtained, a Crown lawyer told the court today that papers are expected to be processed in time for PE scheduled to take place on April 9.

Shamel’s lawyer indicated that if there is any delay he will be mounting an application to be released on bail.

Adjourning the case, District Judge Steven Keown stressed that the focus should “remain firmly” on being ready.