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Head-on-beach murderer convicted Head-on-beach murderer convicted
(40 minutes later)
A convicted killer has been found guilty of murdering a Lithuanian woman whose head was discovered by children on a beach. A convicted killer has been found guilty of the "callous" and "evil" murder of a Lithuanian woman whose head was discovered by children on a beach.
Vitas Plytnykas, 41, had denied torturing and killing Jolanta Bledaite before cutting up her body and throwing it in the sea at Arbroath in Angus.Vitas Plytnykas, 41, had denied torturing and killing Jolanta Bledaite before cutting up her body and throwing it in the sea at Arbroath in Angus.
Ms Bledaite, 35, was made to give over her bank card's Pin number before she was smothered with a pillow last March. The 35-year-old was made to give over her bank card's Pin number before she was smothered with a pillow last March.
Aleksandras Skirda, 20, previously admitted her murder.Aleksandras Skirda, 20, previously admitted her murder.
Plytnykas, who is believed to be a former Russian Army soldier, already has a conviction for manslaughter.Plytnykas, who is believed to be a former Russian Army soldier, already has a conviction for manslaughter.
He was jailed in 2001 in Germany after getting involved in a fight about money.He was jailed in 2001 in Germany after getting involved in a fight about money.
Ms Bledaite was murdered at the flat she shared with fellow Lithuanian Skirda in Brechin on 29 March last year. Bledaite family spokeswoman Sue Smith
The High Court in Edinburgh previously heard that she had been killed for her savings. Jolanta was murdered at the flat she shared with fellow Lithuanian Skirda in Brechin on 29 March last year.
Ms Bledaite's head was found on the beach at Arbroath on 1 April by two sisters, aged eight and 11, who had been playing at the shore. Police searching the sands found her hands soon afterwards. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that she had been killed for her savings. The men thought she had £10,000 in a bank account.
Four days later, a suitcase containing Ms Bledaite's body was pulled from Arbroath harbour by a police underwater search team. Jolanta's head was found on the beach at Arbroath on 1 April by two sisters, aged eight and 11, who had been playing at the shore. Police searching the sands found her hands soon afterwards.
Jolanta Bledaite's head and hands were found on a beach in Angus Four days later, a suitcase containing Jolanta's body was pulled from Arbroath harbour by a police underwater search team.
During the trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of Plytnykas and Skirda on a bus to Arbroath carrying a plastic Lidl bag which had Ms Bledaite's head and hands inside.During the trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of Plytnykas and Skirda on a bus to Arbroath carrying a plastic Lidl bag which had Ms Bledaite's head and hands inside.
Jolanta Bledaite's head and hands were found on a beach in Angus
They were also asked to watch further CCTV images of the pair dragging the suitcase containing Ms Bledaite's body through the streets of Arbroath.They were also asked to watch further CCTV images of the pair dragging the suitcase containing Ms Bledaite's body through the streets of Arbroath.
The trial also heard from witnesses who claimed that the murder had been planned for months.The trial also heard from witnesses who claimed that the murder had been planned for months.
The witnesses told the court of conversations where Plytynykas talked of killing a woman for her money and cutting off her head.The witnesses told the court of conversations where Plytynykas talked of killing a woman for her money and cutting off her head.
There had even been car trips to find a place where a body could be dumped, the court heard.There had even been car trips to find a place where a body could be dumped, the court heard.
However, there was no DNA at the murder scene in Brechin to link Plytnykas, who is also from Lithuania, to the killing.However, there was no DNA at the murder scene in Brechin to link Plytnykas, who is also from Lithuania, to the killing.
But it took the jury of 10 women and five men less than two-and-a-half hours to find Plytynkas guilty of murder, theft and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
Vitas Plytnykas denied any involvement in Ms Bledaite's death
Judge Lord Pentland told Plytnykas that he had conceived "a callous plan" to rob and murder Ms Bledaite.
"With chilling composure and determination you put the evil plan into effect," he said.
The plan had been carried out with military-style precision, added Lord Pentland.
The judge said: "Jolanta Bledaite must have died in a state of grave terror and distress.
"It is clear her ordeal at your hands must have lasted a considerable time. She had done neither of you the slightest harm.
"She was entirely defenceless but you showed her no mercy."
Lord Pentland continued: "You have absolutely no respect for human life or decency. At no stage have you shown the slightest sign of remorse."
He called for background reports before deciding how long Plytnykas must spend in jail.
These evil men showed her no mercy whatsoever, blinded by a callous determination to rob her of her hard-earned savings Det Insp Gordon CryleTayside Police
After the verdict, Det Insp Gordon Cryle from the murder investigation team spoke on behalf of Tayside Police.After the verdict, Det Insp Gordon Cryle from the murder investigation team spoke on behalf of Tayside Police.
"We are very satisfied with today's verdict upon what was undoubtedly one of the most horrific murders to have been committed in Angus in living memory," he said."We are very satisfied with today's verdict upon what was undoubtedly one of the most horrific murders to have been committed in Angus in living memory," he said.
"Jolanta Bledaite's final moments of life must have been filled with terror and dread."Jolanta Bledaite's final moments of life must have been filled with terror and dread.
Vitas Plytnykas denied any involvement in Ms Bledaite's death
"These evil men showed her no mercy whatsoever, blinded by a callous determination to rob her of her hard-earned savings."These evil men showed her no mercy whatsoever, blinded by a callous determination to rob her of her hard-earned savings.
"From everything we have heard, Jolanta was a hard working, conscientious woman who arrived here with aspirations of making a better life for herself. By every account she was a good woman - an innocent victim far from home."From everything we have heard, Jolanta was a hard working, conscientious woman who arrived here with aspirations of making a better life for herself. By every account she was a good woman - an innocent victim far from home.
"Her killers preyed upon her and we were struck by the level of premeditation that they showed. This was not an impulsive crime, but one that was plotted over several weeks.""Her killers preyed upon her and we were struck by the level of premeditation that they showed. This was not an impulsive crime, but one that was plotted over several weeks."
He added that it was satisfying that the killers were traced so quickly after Ms Bledaite's remains were found and he thanked police officers, Interpol and Lithuanian embassy staff for their help.
"Thanks also to members of the local community - including those who are migrant workers - in Arbroath, Brechin and throughout Angus and Tayside who were united in their revulsion over this murder and provided valuable information to the inquiry team," Det Insp Cryle added.
"Neither Plytnykas nor Skirda showed any compassion or mercy towards Jolanta. They robbed her and killed her. In the time since neither have shown a glimmer of remorse for what they did.
"We are pleased that their crime will now face the full punishment of law and we hope that Jolanta's family in Lithuania will find some solace in that fact."