A WOMAN found dead in a flat was beaten and strangled by a man she knew, Gardai believe.
Bruna Fonseca, 28, was strangled as she lay in a bed on New Year’s night.


Gardai have launched an investigation following the grim discovery in the flat in Cork city.
The Brazilian woman’s body was found in the apartment in Liberty Street, within metres of the Washington Street courthouse and a short distance from the city centre.
Gardai were notified of an incident by a man who contacted them early this morning.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested and is being held at nearby Bridewell Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
The emergency services were notified and they rushed to the scene but efforts to resuscitate the woman were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The apartment was sealed off for a full forensic and technical examination by Garda forensic experts.
Gardai were carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the area yesterday and on the street in which St Francis Church is located.
They will also be harvesting CCTV footage from the street which houses a number of business premises.
The woman’s body was taken from the flat at noon and transferred to Cork University Hospital where a full post mortem examination was performed by assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster.
Gardai say the results of the post mortem examination will determine the nature of their investigation.
They are not releasing details of the results, but according to sources the woman was beaten and strangled.
FLAT DISTURBANCES
A source said that Gardai were called to the upstairs flat which is located over a number of businesses. There was a report of a disturbance earlier on New Year’s Eve but when officers arrived there was no indication anything serious was happening.
A second call was received after 6am about another disturbance and when they arrived they were met by a man, also believed to be Brazilian, who took them upstairs to the flat where they discovered the woman unconscious in bed.

Gardai arrested a man in his late 20s at the scene and took him to Bridewell Garda Station.
The university-educated woman who was employed as a librarian and worked as a cleaner in the Mercy University Hospital with a contract cleaning firm.
A large number of revellers were also in the area last night as people celebrated New Year’s Eve with the general vicinity having a number of pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Gardai have appealed to anyone who was in the area on New Years night and morning and who might have seen anything to contact them.
Gardaí also want to confirm the last known movements of the deceased and people she knew.
It is expected there will be a court appearance on Monday.
'DILIGENT WORKER'
The investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer and a Garda Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to liaise with the family of the deceased.
Mercy University Hospital said that that were deeply sorry to hear of the passing of Ms Fonseca.
They said: "On behalf of management and staff at Mercy University Hospital Cork and Bidvest Noonan’s Contract Cleaners we are saddened and shocked at the tragic and unexpected death of Bruna Fonseca.
"Even though she was only working for a short time for the company
at the hospital she was considered a hard and diligent worker and and esteemed colleague.
"We extend our deepest condolences to her friends in Cork, and her
family and friends in Brazil. May she rest in peace."
