Witness had relationship with victim
The bodies of Jolanta Lubiene, aged 27, and her daughter Enrika, aged 8, were discovered at their rented home at 9 Langford Downs, Killorglin, Co Kerry, on June 16, 2013.
Aurimus Andruska, aged 27, a forestry worker of Ardmoniel Heights, Killorglin, has pleaded not guilty to the murders on a date unknown between June 15 and 17, 2013.
Vitalijus Krivobokovas, a baker by trade and a friend of the accused, said he had lent a pair of shoes to Mr Andruska on that weekend. He said the accused had been wearing a top and jeans he had previously given to him.
The clothes worn by Mr Andruska, seen on CCTV stills, were recognised as items the witness had given him. The clothes had remained unchanged between the morning and evening of June 15, the Central Criminal Court in Tralee heard.
Mr Krivobokovas also said he previously had a relationship with the deceased woman. He knew she was married and knew her husband. They had met at a nightclub around five years previously. The relationship was mostly physical, he said.
Mr Krivobokovas said he called to Ms Lubiene’s house to warn her she shouldn’t put her picture on dating websites, because her husband might see it. This was about one-and-a-half months before she died.
The witness said he was invited by Ms Lubiene to “swingers parties” but told her he did not wish to go because he had a girlfriend.
Separately, a scenes-of-crime examiner, Garda Paul Moore, said heavy blood splatters were found in the home of the murdered mother and child.
Garda Moore said there were “heavy blood stains and splatters” on the floor, walls, and on all the electrical items of the kitchen-utility area where Ms Lubiene’s body was lying.
The trial continues. Legal argument took place in absence of the jury yesterday.
The accused’s mother and younger brother, from Lithuania, arrived in the courthouse yesterday. Relatives of the deceased, also from Lithuania, are present for the trial.
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