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Jolanta death was 'perfect crime' | Jolanta death was 'perfect crime' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Jolanta Bledaite's killers planned what they thought was the perfect murder and carried it out with military precision, a court has heard. | Jolanta Bledaite's killers planned what they thought was the perfect murder and carried it out with military precision, a court has heard. |
Ms Bledaite's head was found on the beach at Arbroath on 1 April last year. | Ms Bledaite's head was found on the beach at Arbroath on 1 April last year. |
Vitas Plytnykas, 41, from Lithuania denies any involvement in her death. Lithuanian Aleksandras Skirda, 20, has already admitted her murder. | |
During the prosecution's closing speech, the jury was told the killing was premeditated and cold-blooded. | During the prosecution's closing speech, the jury was told the killing was premeditated and cold-blooded. |
Mr Plytnykas claims Skirda alone was to blame for Ms Bledaite's death. | Mr Plytnykas claims Skirda alone was to blame for Ms Bledaite's death. |
He claims he has an alibi for the morning of 29 March last year when Ms Bledaite, who was also from Lithuania, died in the Brechin flat she shared with Skirda. | He claims he has an alibi for the morning of 29 March last year when Ms Bledaite, who was also from Lithuania, died in the Brechin flat she shared with Skirda. |
'Acting together' | 'Acting together' |
Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC told jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh that both men were guilty. | Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC told jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh that both men were guilty. |
He told the jury that Ms Bledaite appeared to have been an "honest, industrious and hard worker" who kept herself to herself and saved her money. | He told the jury that Ms Bledaite appeared to have been an "honest, industrious and hard worker" who kept herself to herself and saved her money. |
"Two men decided they would take that money. Not for them the honest toil," he said. | "Two men decided they would take that money. Not for them the honest toil," he said. |
He reminded the jury they had heard - from Skirda - how the two men had gone into Ms Bledaite's room and bound her ankles and wrists and gagged her with gaffer tape while they demanded her bank card's Pin number. | He reminded the jury they had heard - from Skirda - how the two men had gone into Ms Bledaite's room and bound her ankles and wrists and gagged her with gaffer tape while they demanded her bank card's Pin number. |
She initially gave them the wrong number. | She initially gave them the wrong number. |
Jolanta Bledaite's head was found by two sisters on Arbroath beach | |
"Then, thinking she might just survive this she gave them the correct number and money was taken from her bank accounts. She was then murdered," he said. | "Then, thinking she might just survive this she gave them the correct number and money was taken from her bank accounts. She was then murdered," he said. |
Mr Prentice continued: "She died. She was then carried to the bathroom where her head was severed. | Mr Prentice continued: "She died. She was then carried to the bathroom where her head was severed. |
"Her hands were cut off and her body and body parts in a very undignified way thrown into the sea in trash bags in the hope - of these two men - that she would not be found and their crime would not be detected." | "Her hands were cut off and her body and body parts in a very undignified way thrown into the sea in trash bags in the hope - of these two men - that she would not be found and their crime would not be detected." |
He said that the last few moments of her life must have been terrifying. | He said that the last few moments of her life must have been terrifying. |
Mr Prentice said: "From the Crown's point of view it doesn't matter who cut the head off. The Crown case is that the two were acting together." | Mr Prentice said: "From the Crown's point of view it doesn't matter who cut the head off. The Crown case is that the two were acting together." |
Fingerprints on bags containing Ms Bledaite's belongings and CCTV footage of Mr Plytnykas on a bus with Skirda carrying the head and hands in a Lidl bag were "compelling evidence," said the advocate depute. | Fingerprints on bags containing Ms Bledaite's belongings and CCTV footage of Mr Plytnykas on a bus with Skirda carrying the head and hands in a Lidl bag were "compelling evidence," said the advocate depute. |
"This was all conducted with almost military precision." | "This was all conducted with almost military precision." |
Mr Prentice continued: "They planned what they thought would be a pretty complete and almost perfect crime." | Mr Prentice continued: "They planned what they thought would be a pretty complete and almost perfect crime." |
However, in his closing speech, Paul McBride QC, defending, described main witness Skirda as a brutal thug and blatant liar. | |
"In this particular case the murderer was an 18-year-old boy with blue eyes, blond hair and an innocent face, a person you would pass in the street thinking he was a youngster with butter not melting in his mouth," he said. | |
Aleksandras Skirda was accused of lying to get a lighter sentence | |
"But the fact is, the person before you in the witness box in this case is the face of evil. | |
"That is the person who watched the person who trusted him most - Jolanta - tied up, gagged, left on the floor, suffocated, butchered, decapitated and dumped like a piece of meat." | |
Mr McBride told the jury: "You have seen the movie Hannibal Lecter - this is for real." | |
He reminded them that Skirda lied for hours during police interviews before breaking down, telling police his story and implicating Mr Plytnykas. | |
He told the court that Skirda had been lying in the hope he would get a lighter sentence. | |
Mr McBride pointed out that no bloodstains or DNA linked Mr Plytnykas to the murder, but there was a link with Skirda. | |
He showed the trial a photo of the bathroom where Ms Bledaite was butchered. | |
"Look at that small area. Someone is having their head cut off. Someone is having their hands cut off and according to Skirda - if you can believe a word he says - there was a lot of blood about." | |
Pointing to Mr Plytnykas in the dock, the lawyer continued: "Nothing on him at all. Nothing either on her (Ms Bledaite) to link him to her at all." | |
Mr McBride urged the jury: "Look at the evidence and get it right." | |
He told them: "This was a disgusting and distasteful and brutal and horrific crime, there is no question about that. | |
"But you must put out of your minds the nature of the crime when deciding the guilt or innocence of the man who currently sits in court." | |
The prosecution had got Ms Bledaite's murderer, said Mr McBride - but Mr Plytnykas was not part of it. | |
The jury will be asked to consider their verdicts on Friday. |
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