Limerick: Habib Shamel charged with Geila Ibram murder

Geila Ibram was found dead in an apartment block in Limerick city on Tuesday afternoon

A 26-year-old man has appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with stabbing a woman to death in the Republic of Ireland.

The body of 27-year-old Geila Ibram, who was originally from Romania, was found in an apartment block in Limerick city on Tuesday afternoon.

Habib Shamel was arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast on Thursday.

The court heard he was seen on CCTV on the morning of the murder arranging a "sexual exchange" with the victim.

Mr Shamel was then seen arriving at the victim's address at 13:28 local time, leaving just over a minute later.

The court was told that Mr Shamel stabbed Ms Ibram "numerous times in the neck, face and abdomen in a frenzied attack" during this time.

It is also heard that he injured his hand in the attack and attended hospital in Limerick.

He then left all his identification in Limerick and travelled north on a bus with a companion, the court was told.

'Dangerous human being'

It is understood Mr Shamel is an Afghani national who claimed asylum in the Republic of Ireland in October 2020.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had been helping An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force) with the murder investigation.

A PSNI detective told the court Mr Shamel was a "volatile and dangerous human being, with a real danger of reoffending".

"Mr Shamel had no regard for human life and safety," the detective added.

Mr Shamel was charged under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, which allows the PSNI to prosecute in Northern Ireland if a suspect has fled from a different jurisdiction.

In denying bail, the judge said there was a "strong prosecution case" and Mr Shamel "was far too high a risk".

He will appear in court again via video link on 2 May.