Man Receives Life Sentence for Stabbing and Burning Sister

Kornelijus Bracas was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his sister, Alesia Nazarova, in a crime that has shocked the community in Randalstown, Northern Ireland. In a harrowing attack, Bracas stabbed Nazarova multiple times before setting her on fire while she was still alive. The 37-year-old must serve a minimum of 24 years before he can apply for release.

During the sentencing at Belfast Crown Court, Madam Justice McBride described Bracas’s actions as cold and calculated. He was found guilty of inflicting “gratuitous violence” and demonstrated a “callous disregard for life.” The judge emphasized the severity of the crime, saying, “You took a knife from the kitchen and slit your sister’s throat. Then you cleaned the knife and returned it to the kitchen.”

The tragic events unfolded in the early hours of March 21, 2023. Emergency services were called to the family’s home, where they discovered that five areas within the property had been set ablaze. Nazarova was found deceased on the ground floor, while her 12-year-old daughter was rescued from a first-floor bedroom.

Crown barrister Neil Connor KC provided alarming details during the plea hearing. A post-mortem examination revealed that Nazarova had suffered burns to 60% of her body and had been stabbed between 14 and 15 times in the neck, in addition to four wounds to her abdomen. One of the neck injuries was described as “substantial” and would have required immediate medical intervention to prevent death.

Bracas and Nazarova, both originally from Lithuania, had been living together after Bracas experienced conflicts with their parents. On the day of the murder, he was arrested near a Tesco car park in Portadown, where officers noted a strong smell of heating oil on his clothing.

In police interviews, Bracas confessed to the murder and admitted to attempting to set the house on fire. He claimed the incident occurred after an argument escalated, leading him to “snap.” He described how he placed Nazarova in a headlock until she stopped breathing, then used a knife to inflict the fatal injuries. Following this, he surrounded her body with rubbish and ignited it, using heating oil-soaked towels.

Bracas’s motivations appear to stem from feelings of neglect, as he expressed that his sister treated him “like garbage” and forced him to perform household chores, including babysitting his niece. His criminal history includes previous convictions for assaulting his parents and violence against animals.

Justice McBride’s ruling reflects a commitment to ensuring public safety, as Bracas will be under the scrutiny of the Parole Commissioners after serving a minimum of 24 years. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, drawing attention to issues of domestic violence and the tragic consequences of familial conflicts.