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04
Jul 2022
Doubt cast on Harrogate murder suspect's claim
Doubt has been cast on a murder suspect's claim that he was not involved in the death of Gracijus Balciauskas at a flat on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate last year.
Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 39, and Vitalijus Koreiva, 36, are accused of murdering Mr Balciauskas at a flat on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate on December 20 last year.
The trial at Leeds Crown Court began two weeks ago with the prosecution giving evidence. The court heard how Mr Balciauskas’s body was found wrapped in a rug.
Mr Rutowicz took the stand last week to begin his defence. He claimed Mr Koreiva violently killed Gracijus Balciauskas after a drunken game of chess turned ugly — and then threatened to do the same to him if he dialled 999 for help.
Today Mr Rutowicz was cross-examined by Mr Koreiva's barrister, Peter Moulson QC, who suggested his version of events was "simply a lie".
'In shock'
Much of Mr Moulson's questioning focused on why Mr Rutowicz did not call the police until almost 18 hours after the alleged murder took place.
The court had previously been shown CCTV footage of Mr Rutowicz leaving the flat and returning several times to buy alcohol in the hours after Mr Balciauskas died.
Mr Moulson QC said:
Read more:
Harrogate murder suspect claims he feared for his own life after ‘brutal’ assault
Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug
During today's hearing, Mr Rutowicz repeatedly said that he was in shock after witnessing the death of Mr Balciauskas.
Mr Rutowicz repeated his previous claim that he had been threatened by Mr Koreiva with his life if he called the police. He said Mr Koreiva's nickname in Harrogate was the "crazy Russian" and he had an unpredictable character.
He said:
Harrowing images
The court was again shown harrowing video images, filmed on Mr Rutowicz's phone, of Mr Balciauskas bloodied and barely conscious after being assaulted at the flat on Mayfield Grove.
Mr Moulson QC suggested the reason he filmed the encounter was to use it as a threat against Mr Balciauskas if he "crossed" the pair again, which Mr Rutowicz denied.
He said:
The afternoon finished with Mr Koreiva on the stand beginning his evidence. The trial continues tomorrow.
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