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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Accused 'cut off victim's head' | Accused 'cut off victim's head' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A man accused of murdering a Lithuanian woman smothered her with a pillow before cutting off her head and putting it in a plastic bag, a court has heard. | A man accused of murdering a Lithuanian woman smothered her with a pillow before cutting off her head and putting it in a plastic bag, a court has heard. |
| Aleksandras Skirda, 20, who has already admitted killing Jolanta Bledaite, made the claim at the trial of Vitas Plytnykas, 41, who denies murder. | Aleksandras Skirda, 20, who has already admitted killing Jolanta Bledaite, made the claim at the trial of Vitas Plytnykas, 41, who denies murder. |
| The court was also shown CCTV images of the pair on a bus to Arbroath with the plastic bag said to contain the head. | The court was also shown CCTV images of the pair on a bus to Arbroath with the plastic bag said to contain the head. |
| Skirda told the court they murdered Ms Bledaite, 35, to get her savings. | Skirda told the court they murdered Ms Bledaite, 35, to get her savings. |
| Ms Bledaite's head was found by two young sisters playing at the beach in Arbroath on 1 April, last year. Her hands were found by police soon after. | Ms Bledaite's head was found by two young sisters playing at the beach in Arbroath on 1 April, last year. Her hands were found by police soon after. |
| Skirda told the High Court in Edinburgh that he and Mr Plytnykas had been planning the murder for about two months before Ms Bledaite's death and had even bought the plastic bags to dispose of the remains in the sea at Arbroath. | Skirda told the High Court in Edinburgh that he and Mr Plytnykas had been planning the murder for about two months before Ms Bledaite's death and had even bought the plastic bags to dispose of the remains in the sea at Arbroath. |
| The trial heard that Ms Bledaite was reading when the two men burst into her room just before 0800 GMT on 29 March last year. | The trial heard that Ms Bledaite was reading when the two men burst into her room just before 0800 GMT on 29 March last year. |
| Skirda, who was Ms Bledaite's flat mate, said he wrapped gaffer tape round her hands and ankles while Mr Plytnykas held her. | Skirda, who was Ms Bledaite's flat mate, said he wrapped gaffer tape round her hands and ankles while Mr Plytnykas held her. |
| Skirda told the court they made Ms Bledaite give them the Pin number of her bank card. She initially gave them the wrong information but handed over the correct number after being punched. | Skirda told the court they made Ms Bledaite give them the Pin number of her bank card. She initially gave them the wrong information but handed over the correct number after being punched. |
| Aleksandras Skirda previously admitted killing Jolanta Bledaite | Aleksandras Skirda previously admitted killing Jolanta Bledaite |
| "Then Vitas put a pillow over her face," Skirda said, describing how he held the struggling woman's legs. After a few minutes she was not breathing. | "Then Vitas put a pillow over her face," Skirda said, describing how he held the struggling woman's legs. After a few minutes she was not breathing. |
| "I felt bad," Skirda said. | "I felt bad," Skirda said. |
| The court heard that the two men cleared personal papers and possessions from Ms Bledaite's room, then dragged or carried the body to the bath. | The court heard that the two men cleared personal papers and possessions from Ms Bledaite's room, then dragged or carried the body to the bath. |
| Skirda said he brought knives from the kitchen and gave them to Plytnykas. | |
| He told the court: "Well, after that Vitas cut off her head." | He told the court: "Well, after that Vitas cut off her head." |
| Skirda also described how Plytnykas pulled one arm from the bath and cut off Ms Bledaite's left hand before manoeuvring her body onto its side and severing the right hand. | Skirda also described how Plytnykas pulled one arm from the bath and cut off Ms Bledaite's left hand before manoeuvring her body onto its side and severing the right hand. |
| He said he held the bag as Plytnykas dropped the head inside. | He said he held the bag as Plytnykas dropped the head inside. |
| They wanted to make the body hard to identify, he claimed. | They wanted to make the body hard to identify, he claimed. |
| The knives and personal papers were then thrown in the nearby South Esk river. | The knives and personal papers were then thrown in the nearby South Esk river. |
| Skirda told the court that Ms Bledaite was going to be murdered whether she had given over her Pin number or not. | Skirda told the court that Ms Bledaite was going to be murdered whether she had given over her Pin number or not. |
| The court saw CCTV footage showing the pair on bus heading for Arbroath with a Lidl bag. | The court saw CCTV footage showing the pair on bus heading for Arbroath with a Lidl bag. |
| Skirda claimed they went to the harbour and found stones to put in the bags, then Plytnykas threw them into the sea. | Skirda claimed they went to the harbour and found stones to put in the bags, then Plytnykas threw them into the sea. |
| The two men then went shopping with Ms Bledaite's money, Plytnykas buying a baby's pram, he said. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |