AN Irishman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his ex-wife in Hungary after she was found dead last month.
The Japanese woman was found dead after an apartment fire on January 29.
Her ex-husband, a 43-year-old Irishman was arrested by Hungarian police on Tuesday.
According to Hungarian police the man had alerted emergency services to the fire.
Initially foul play was not suspected and it appeared the fire had been caused by the woman, who has not been named, smoking in bed.
The woman is the mother of two children.
Police later confirmed that CCTV and a forensic autopsy had prompted them to open a murder investigation.
It is also understood friends of the woman claimed she did not smoke.
Her ex-husband was later arrested but denies killing her.
Yesterday, a court order a pre-trial detention of the suspect for one month.
This is on the grounds of deliberate premeditated homicide.
According to a spokesperson for Budapest’s Metropolitan Prosecution Office the man has appealed the decision.
It is understood the Irish man does not live in Hungary and had arrived in the country for a visit.
The suspect and the deceased had met years previous in the United States
In a statement a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “The Department is aware of the case.
“The Department provides consular assistance, when requested, to Irish citizens abroad in line with its Consular Charter.”
A vigil was held in in Budapest for the Japanese woman.
Flowers and candles were placed near the building where the woman died in central Budapest.
The location is in the city’s fifth district.
The vigil for the deceased was attended by over 200 people.
