Man Receives 24-Year Life Sentence for Brutal Sister Murder in Portadown
A 27-year-old man has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years for the cold-blooded murder of his sister in her Portadown home, where he stabbed her multiple times and set her on fire while she was still alive.
Details of the Horrific Crime
Kornelijus Bracas, from Tresna Park in Randalstown, Co Antrim, pleaded guilty to murdering his 37-year-old sister Alesia Nazarova at her Church Street home in Portadown, Co Armagh, nearly three years ago. The court heard that Bracas brutally stabbed his sister between 14 and 15 times in the neck and four times in the abdomen before setting her alight with rubbish and heating oil-soaked towels.
During the sentencing at Belfast Crown Court, Madam Justice McBride described Bracas as "one of the most brutal, remorseless and cold-blooded murderers I have had to deal with". She highlighted his callous actions, including cleaning the murder weapon and returning it to the kitchen, as demonstrating "gratuitous violence and a callous disregard for life".
Fire Setting and Niece's Ordeal
The court was told that Bracas set five separate fires within the property in the early hours of March 21, 2023, including one outside his 12-year-old niece's bedroom door. Emergency services discovered Ms Nazarova downstairs while firefighters rescued the niece from a first-floor bedroom. The child was rushed to hospital for treatment.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Ms Nazarova was still alive when her brother set her alight, suffering burns covering 60% of her body. Prosecution counsel Neil Connor KC noted that one neck wound was "substantial" and would have required immediate medical intervention to prevent loss of life.
Background and Arrest
The siblings, originally from Lithuania, had been living together with the niece prior to the murder. Bracas had moved in with his sister after falling out with both parents. He was arrested later on the day of the murder on a tow path near the Tesco car park in Portadown, where police noted a strong odour of heating oil on his clothing and found him carrying his sister's bank card.
During police interviews, Bracas confessed to the murder and arson offences, claiming he "snapped" after an argument with his sister. He told officers his sister didn't appreciate him, treated him "like garbage" and made him do household chores including babysitting.
Sentencing and Judicial Comments
Madam Justice McBride stated that Bracas's remarks demonstrated a "misogynistic attitude towards women" and emphasised that "domestic violence does not just involve intimate partners but wider family relations". She noted that Northern Ireland has "one of the highest rates of femicide in western Europe" and that there is a need for deterrence.
The judge highlighted several aggravating factors:
- Setting his sister on fire before her death
- Setting fire to the house to conceal the crime scene
- Breach of trust within family relationships
- Previous criminal record for domestic violence against his mother and brother
- Being on bail at the time of the offence
Victim Impact and Family Aftermath
The court heard part of a victim impact statement from Ms Nazarova's partner, who described her as a "very cheerful person" and spoke of their plans to marry. He expressed that he thinks about Ms Nazarova "every day". None of Ms Nazarova's family were present in court, but they requested to be updated after the sentencing hearing concluded.
Bracas was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years before he can apply for release. After serving this period, it will fall to the Parole Commissioners to decide if he should be released on licence subject to conditions. The judge decided against making a deportation order despite prosecution requests for consideration of this issue.
