PSNI detectives investigating the murder of Montserrat Martorell, whose body was found in a burning flat, have been granted an additional eighteen hours to question a suspect.
Ms Martorell (65), who had been living in Derry, sustained multiple injuries in what the police described as an “horrific and sustained attack”.
The injuries were so extensive that initially the police were unable to identify the victim, whose family live in Spain.
In a closed court hearing at the magistrates court in Derry attended only by a judge, two court clerks and the press, the suspect appeared on a video link from the Musgrave PSNI custody suite.
Also in the suite were the suspect’s solicitor Keith Kyle as well as six police officers.
Prior to the closed court hearing, Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer KC ordered that nothing that could identify the suspect should be made public.
Moving the detention application a detective inspector told Mr Mateer “we are investigating the murder of Montserrat Martorell at 10 Harvey Street”.
“Our investigations include witness evidence, forensic evidence, CCTV evidence and mobile phone evidence. The CCTV evidence shows the movements of a man. The forensic evidence from the scene is being examined as are the results of the post mortem examination and continuing mobile phone examinations.
“We are awaiting the results of the forensic examinations later (on Wednesday) and the further detention is necessary until the forensic results and other witness statements have been received”, he said.
The Deputy District Judge said based on the police application he believed “there are reasonable grounds for the application” which he granted for a further eighteen hours, effective from 10am on Wednesday.