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A man who murdered his sister and then set a fire outside his niece’s bedroom in a Portadown home in March 2023 has been sentenced to at least 24 years in prison.
In handing down the sentence, Madam Justice McBride described 27-year-old Kornelijus Bracas of Tresna Park, Randalstown, as “one of the most brutal, cold-blooded murderers” she has come across, adding that she had “demonstrated gratuitous violence”.
Alesia Nazarova, 37, died at her home after her brother attacked her and set fires around the home.
His niece, the daughter of Ms Nazarova, was also in the house and had to be rescued by firefighters after a headboard was placed to block her door.
Bracas pleaded guilty to the murder of his sister last year but the judge said “he has not expressed any genuine or real remorse”.
The court heard that Bracas and Ms Nazarova had argued when she had asked him to help with household chores.
During police interviews Bracas claimed he had “snapped” after his sister screamed at him.
He said he strangled her and then stabbed her multiple times in the neck.
Bracas then placed several towels soaked in heating oil around the house – including outside his niece’s bedroom door – before setting them alight.
Ms Nazarova, the court heard, was still alive when the fires were lit.
Bracas was arrested in Portadown and subsequently pleaded guilty to murder.
He also pleaded guilty to arson endangering the life of his niece and arson being reckless as to whether the life of others would be endangered.
The judge referenced a victim impact statement written by Ms Nazarova’s partner who wrote of how they had planned to marry and the devastation her murder had caused.
She was described as a cheerful person and a brilliant mum.
Domestic violence is ‘scourge on society’
In his statement he said he thinks about Ms Nazarova every day and wishes she could see their daughter growing up.
Both Ms Nazarova and her brother are originally from Lithuania.
The judge said there were several aggravating factors in the case including the fact Bracas blocked his niece from escaping her room and set fire to the deceased while she was still alive.
The judge also pointed out he had tried to burn the house down and destroy the crime scene.
She also spoke about the fact this was a domestic violence case and Bracas’s misogynistic attitude towards women was evidenced by his claim his sister has treated him like “garbage” by asking him to do chores.
The judge said domestic violence is a scourge on society in Northern Ireland.
