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Lithuanian 'killed for savings' 'We plotted head-on-beach murder'
(20 minutes later)
A jury has heard details of a plan to kill a Lithuanian woman for her savings then dump her cut up body in the sea. A murderer has told a trial how he and another man hatched a plot to kill a Lithuanian woman for her savings then dump her cut-up body in the sea.
Aleksandras Skirda, 20, who has already admitted murdering farm worker Jolanta Bledaite in Angus, was giving evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh. Aleksandras Skirda, 20, has admitted murdering farm worker Jolanta Bledaite in Angus in March last year.
He said that he and Vitas Plytnykas were going to threaten Ms Bledaite, 35, to get her bank card details then kill her regardless of her response. He was giving evidence at the trial of Vitas Plytnykas, 41, who denies murder.
Mr Plytnykas, 41, denies murdering Ms Bledaite in March of last year. Skirda said the pair had decided to threaten Ms Bledaite, 35, to get her bank card details then "dispose of" her - regardless of her response.
Mr Plytnykas claims that Skirda alone is to blame for the killing.
Ms Bledaite's head was found on the beach at Arbroath by two young sisters on 1 April. Police discovered her hands shortly afterwards.Ms Bledaite's head was found on the beach at Arbroath by two young sisters on 1 April. Police discovered her hands shortly afterwards.
A suitcase containing body parts was later pulled from the harbour at Arbroath.A suitcase containing body parts was later pulled from the harbour at Arbroath.
Skirda told the court that he and Mr Plytnykas, who are also both from Lithuania, had prepared for the killing by buying bin bags to put Ms Bledaite's head and hands in. Skirda told the High Court in Edinburgh that he and Mr Plytnykas, who are also both from Lithuania, had prepared for the killing by buying bin bags to put Ms Bledaite's head and hands in.
Skirda, who shared a flat with Ms Bledaite, said that he and Mr Plytnykas came up with the plan in the early part of last year after learning that Ms Bledaite had £4,000 to £5,000 in savings.
He told the court: "The plan was to take all the money."
Aleksandras Skirda previously admitted killing Jolanta Bledaite
"What about Jolanta?" asked prosecutor Alex Prentice QC.
"The plan was to dispose of her," Skirda replied.
"Do you mean you were going to kill her?" asked Mr Prentice.
"Yes," Skirda replied.
The witness confirmed that the plan was to kill Ms Bledaite if she did not hand over the Pin number for her bank cards.
Mr Prentice asked: "If she did give you the Pin number, what was going to happen to Jolanta?"
"The same," Skirda replied.
"You were going to kill her no matter what happened, is that right?" asked the prosecutor.
"Yes," said Skirda.
Skirda told the court that he and the accused discussed getting rid of Ms Bledaite's body by throwing it in the sea.
They planned to cut off her hands and head to make the remains difficult to identify.
When Mr Prentice asked how they were planning to cut off the body parts, Skirda replied: "It was Vitas's idea."
The trial continues