A Queens bartender who was fatally stabbed by her boyfriend told co-workers that her “relationship wasn’t working out” and was considering returning to Ireland, authorities said Wednesday.
Marcin Pieciak, 36, was charged with murder and weapons offenses on Wednesday after he brutally attacked his Irish girlfriend Sarah McNally inside the Keili House pub in Maspeth.
Detective Chief Inspector Joseph Kenny told a news conference that Piesiak, a regular at the pub, spoke briefly to patrons, then “walked behind the bar” and pulled out two knives and slashed his doomed gal pal multiple times by the throat. He said he had been cut.
Ms Kenny said her furious boyfriend, whom she met while McNally, 41, was working in a hole in the wall, then “tried to slit his own throat multiple times”.
“She was just standing there talking,” a female customer who witnessed the bloodshed told the Post.
“Her boyfriend came in…and he just walked in and stabbed her. Then he started trying to stab himself. It’s terrible. Just terrible!
Prosecutors said when Pieciak tried to flee, customers tried to stop him until police arrived.
McNally, originally from Longford, Ireland, and living with her boyfriend in Glendale, was rushed to a local hospital but could not be saved.
Ms Kenny said she had recently told friends that her relationship was on the rocks and that she was considering moving back to Ireland.
Her family was heartbroken after the devastating attack, her aunt said on Facebook.
Mr McNally’s aunt Mary posted on Easter Sunday: “Rest in peace my beautiful niece Sarah. We are heartbroken. We love you always.”
Meanwhile, Piesiak remains in stable condition at Elmhurst Hospital, where he was arraigned on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.
Judge Julieta Lozano remanded him in custody.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said the attack “shocked” the Queens community.
“It was unwarranted and a devastating loss to the family,” Katz said. “We are leveraging all of our resources to ensure we meet our responsibilities.”
Pieczak’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 5.
