Man admits killing but not murder

A 52-year-old man has admitted killing another man, whose body was found on a Louth beach in 2013.

The man, who has been charged with the 44-year-old’s murder, is one of two who will go on trial tomorrow, charged in connection with the death.

Marius Gaizutis, with an address at Marsh Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, is charged with murdering Audrius Butkus at that address on September 9 or 10, 2013.

He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court yesterday morning.

This was found not to be acceptable to the State and a jury was sworn in to try him and his co-accused.

Aivers Sonders, 53, of Sycamore Close, Termon Abbey in Drogheda, was arraigned on separate charges yesterday.

He is charged with three counts of assisting an offender on the same dates by impeding Mr Gaizutis’s apprehension or prosecution.

The particulars include moving the body from Marsh Road and placing it in the sea at Mornington Beach; cleaning up the scene at Marsh Road; and disposing of carpet, clothing, a nail brush, bin bag, bottles and tins from the scene at the Burke House, Mathew’s Lane, Drogheda.

Mr Sonders pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

A jury of four women and eight men was sworn in to hear the trial, which is expected to last for five or six days.