His wife, 25-year-old Natasha Gray from Jamaica, was found dead in her Grand Canal View flat in Phibsboro, Dublin, in 2003.

Mr.Udechuckwu, a Nigerian national, was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison until his next court appearance on 26 August.

Goodwill Udechuckwu

Suspect in wife’s murder agrees to return to Ireland

A MAN wanted over his wife’s murder in Dublin agreed to be extradited from London yesterday because he wanted to see his son.

Nigerian national Goodwill Udechuckwu, 31, was arrested in London on Monday in connection with another matter, and was arrested again on Tuesday by the extradition squad after Ireland requested his return for “a matter of murder”.

His wife, Natasha Gray, a 25-year-old Jamaican, was found bludgeoned to death in her Grand Canal View flat in Phibsboro, Dublin, in February 2003.

Initially Mr Udechuckwu told Bow Street Magistrates’ Court he would not agree to Ireland’s extradition request, and his defence counsel Mark Summers said he had made it “absolutely clear” he did not wish to return to the country.

But he then asked to speak to his solicitor and after a break in proceedings he returned to court to give his consent.

Asked if it was correct that it was his wish, Mr Udechuckwu, dressed in a dark suit and white checked shirt, said: “Yes, because I have got a son in Ireland which I have missed so much.”

When asked if he understood that his consent meant he could be pursued for any other matter in the country, he answered: “I haven’t got any other matter in Ireland, I have got my son in Ireland.”

Anne-Marie Blunden, counsel for the Judicial Authority of Ireland, told the court that identification would not be disputed.

District Judge Nicholas Evans remanded Mr Udechuckwu in custody pending his extradition.

He said this would take place in the next 10 days but would probably happen “rather more quickly than that”, in a day or two.