Publication date:
Kornelijus Bracas (27) was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 24 years at Laganside Crown Court in Belfast today (26 January 2026), after admitting the murder of his sister Alesia Nazarova in Portadown on 21 March 2023.
Bracas pleaded guilty in October 2025 to murder aggravated by domestic abuse and arson with intent to endanger the life of his niece, having previously pleaded not guilty in September 2024.
PPS Senior Public Prosecutor James McLernon said: “Alesia Nazarova was brutally murdered in her own home by Bracas, a place where she should have been safe from harm.
“Bracas used accelerants to start multiple fires throughout the home, including one outside his niece’s bedroom which was set with the specific intent of endangering her life. She was trapped inside the upstairs bedroom by the flames and rescued by emergency services. She continues to suffer trauma as a result of this callous and cowardly act.
Mr McLernon continued: “The prosecution team in the PPS Serious Crime Unit worked closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland as they carried out a full investigation, to bring Bracas before the court and build a robust case against him, resulting in the eventual guilty pleas.
“Violence against women and girls is an extremely prevalent and deeply concerning issue in society today. Anyone of any age or gender can be the victim of domestic abuse, and it is never acceptable. If you think you are experiencing domestic abuse, I encourage you to report the crime to police and seek help.
“Our prosecutors are trained to recognise the complex features of domestic abuse. We work with police to ensure victims are treated sensitively and with respect. We consider every case carefully and will prosecute cases at their height if there is the evidence to do so.”
Notes to editors
More information on how we handle cases involving domestic abuse can be found on our website. You can also read the PPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Domestic Abuse.
There is more information about how to report domestic abuse to police, and details of support organisations, on the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s website.
For Media Enquiries during office hours (from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm) please contact the PPS Communications Unit at: PPSPressOffice@ppsni.gov.uk
The out of hours duty press officer can be contacted on: 07920 271 804, 07341 800254 or 07920 418844