Murderer shows no emotion at start of life term

We are stuck in a nightmare, says grieving sister of slain Jolanta

A 28-year-old man last night began a life sentence after being convicted by a jury of murdering a mother and daughter.

Aurimas Andruksa, a forestry worker, showed no emotion after being sentenced by Judge Patrick McCarthy at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Tralee, Co Kerry.

He had denied murdering Jolanta Lubiene, aged 27, and her daughter, Enrika, aged 8, at their blood-spattered home, No 9 Langford Downs, Killorglin, Co Kerry, in June 2013.

Ms Jolanta had been stabbed 61 times and Enrika, who had received her First Holy Communion a short time before, 11 times.

Det Sgt John Kelly, Killarney, who arrested Mr Andruska in June 2013, told the court he was a native of Klaipeda, in Lithuania, and was at one time a semi-professional footballer.

He has a younger brother aged 14; his father, Juozas, is a bus driver and his mother, Virginja, who was in a court, is a nurse in Lithuania.

Det Sergt Kelly said the accused had first moved to Ireland in 2007 and had lived at 9 Langford Downs with others. He returned to Lithuania where he worked building tombstones and came back to Ireland in February 2013.

He had a conviction in Lithuania in relation to heroin storage and transportation and was a heroin user when he returned here in 2013.

The husband of Ms Lubiene, Marius Lubys, who was working in Sweden at the time of the murders, wept in court and, in a short victim impact statement, recalled how he had lost a beautiful family.

He had last seen his family in April 2013, just before Enrika’s First Holy Communion, and was in constant contact with them through Skype and phone.

“Over a year ago I had a beautiful family. We lived and loved one another the way we could. We made some mistakes, but who doesn’t. We raised and cared for our daughter the best that we could,” said Mr Lubys.

“On that horrible day that I found out they were gone, my life was changed 100%. I didn’t understand why or who did it. There was a lot of tears, stress, sadness and plenty of sleepless nights.

“There was not one minute that went by when I did not think about them, or that I have not thought about them since. What would it be like if they were still here?

“I cannot describe to you how much I loved them, especially my little girl Enrika. My life has no joy anymore. I cannot hug Enrika or hear her joy or laughter anymore. I cannot see Enrika messing or playing around the house anymore. I miss them so very much.

“Nothing will ever bring them back to me. I can only hope they will now rest in peace and I say to you, Jolanta and Enrika, that you will always stay in my heart.”

Ms Lubiene’s sister, Kule Kulevicieine, said that all their lives had been transformed into a living hell and, to this day, they were living an unending nightmare.

“It seems like we are just stuck in it. Even though we all want to, I know that we will never wake up from it,’’ said in her statement.

She spoke of countless, sleepless nights and anxiety-filled days. She experienced an endless fear for those close to her and felt none of the family was safe in their homes.

“That fear still exists today…This fear, I feel, is a very difficult thing to overcome. It is a constant and very real fear that, I think, all my family now feel.”

Ms Kulevicieine said she had tried counselling and medication, but neither had helped her and had even lost her job.

“Now I feel there is nothing left for any of us. There is no more joy in our lives…all the joy that had been so much part of our lives was taken from my family in 2013.”