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A man has admitted to killing a woman who was found dead in a ground-floor flat after a blaze at the property more than two years ago, a court has heard.
Ciaran Edward Murray, 30, of Malvern Terrace in the Waterside area of Londonderry, is charged with the murder of 65-year-old Spanish national Montserrat Martorell.
Her body was discovered in a flat in the Harvey Street area of Derry on 24 August 2024.
Appearing via video link before Belfast Crown Court on Friday, when the charge of murder was put to him, the 30-year-old replied: "Not guilty, but guilty to manslaughter."
Following this, prosecution counsel told the court that his instructions were to proceed with the murder case.
During proceedings on Friday, the accused pleaded guilty to a charge of arson, being reckless to a house of multiple occupancy on Harvey Street on the same date.
Defence counsel said a consultant clinical psychologist had been instructed in the case and would examine the accused in late October.
The court also heard that defence counsel had been instructed by the accused, "at this first opportunity, to apologise to the family of the deceased for his actions".
Prosecution counsel Simon Reid KC said that, in light of the defence seeking a report from a clinical psychologist, he would have a clinical psychologist for the prosecution on standby once the defence report was furnished.
Mr Justice Fowler said he would list the case for November for an update on progress with the medical report.
