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05
Jul 2022
Harrogate man 'out of his mind' on alcohol admits attacking friend
Vitalijus Koreiva has admitted punching and kicking Gracijus Balciauskas during a drunken argument but that he was "out of his mind" on alcohol during the weekend he died.
Mr Koreiva, 36, and Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 39, are accused of murdering Mr Balciauskas at a flat on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate on December 20 last year.
Yesterday afternoon and today at Leeds Crown Court, Mr Koreiva was cross-examined by defence barrister Simon Kealey QC and prosecuting barrister Peter Moulson QC.
The court heard how Mr Koreiva, who is Lithuanian, had abused alcohol since he was 13 and there were periods during his life when he was drinking a litre of vodka a day or "until I get knocked out".
He moved to Harrogate in 2017 to move in with his sister in a failed attempt to get sober and had previously been in prison in Germany for drug offences.
Mr Koreiva said he was working at the Morrison's factory in Flaxby packing onions and carrots and had developed a friendship with both Mr Rutowicz and Mr Balciauskas whilst living in Harrogate.
Read previous articles on the trial below:
- Doubt cast on Harrogate murder suspect’s claim
- Harrogate murder suspect claims he feared for his own life after ‘brutal’ assault
- Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug
Game of chess
Mr Koreiva disputed Mr Rutowicz previous claim that the argument took place over a game of chess but said he could not remember how it began.
The court heard how on in the early hours of December 20, Mr Koreiva erupted after Mr Balciauskas told him to "go f*** himself".
Mr Koreiva then said he raised his fists in aggression and punched Mr Balciauskas four times in the face.
A video was again shown in court, taken on Mr Rutowicz's phone, that showed Mr Koreiva kicking him whilst Mr Balciauskas was laying bloody on the floor and semi-conscious.
When asked why he kicked a defenceless man, Mr Koreiva said:
He then said he "did not remember" what happened after he kicked Mr Balciauskas.
'I was in shock'
After several hours passed without either man calling an ambulance, Mr Rutowicz felt his pulse and told Mr Koreiva that he was dead. Mr Koreiva said he attempted CPR to try and save him.
Mr Koreiva then said the pair had a drink of alcohol together "to give our last respect for Gracijus, a drink for our friend."
Speaking about the assault on Mr Balciauskas, he added:
'Out of our minds'
Mr Koreiva also admitted to putting Mr Balciauskas's dead body in a rug after he died. He said both himself and Mr Rutowicz were "absolutely out of our minds and in madness".
He added:
During cross-examination, Mr Rutowicz claimed that Mr Koreiva threatened him with his life he called 999, which he denied.
He said:
Police interview
In Mr Koreiva's original statement given in the days after the incident took place, he told police that he saw Mr Rutowicz strike Mr Balciauskas twice.
However, in court, he admitted this was not true and he initially tried to "create another version" of events because he feared Rutowitc would pin the murder on him.
Mr Koreiva confirmed that he did not see Mr Rutowicz be violent towards Mr Balciauskas on the night that he died.
He told the court, "I'm taking my responsibility for the death of Gracijus" who he called a "good man".
Mr Koreiva added:
The trial will continue tomorrow.
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