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:

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:

“I was in such a state I didn’t know what I was thinking or doing.”

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.

“I had two hands on his chest and I was doing CPR. I saw the blood in his mouth at that moment Rutowicz said, ‘It’s too late, leave it, leave it.

“I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. It was unexpected really.”

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:

“If I was sober it would never have happened. I was out of control.”

‘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:

“We didn’t know what we were doing. You can’t imagine me and Rutowicz carrying a dead body through Harrogate town centre? It was a situation when you are drunk, lost and don’t know to do.”

During cross-examination, Mr Rutowicz claimed that Mr Koreiva threatened him with his life he called 999, which he denied.

He said:

“He is trying to get out of prison. I wasn’t holding him or threatening him. He was free to go. He’s lying. He’s a good actor.”

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:

“I want to apologise to Gracijus’ family for everything that happened. He did nothing wrong and he didn’t deserve this”.

The trial will continue tomorrow.

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:

“For almost 18 hours after your friend sustained his injuries, you went backwards and forwards to the flat voluntarily. You were never being threatened by Mr Koreiva, that is simply a lie.”

Read more:

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:

“It was that fear. Nobody had threatened me before in my life like that, that he would find me and kill me. As long as that aggression was there I kept coming back.”

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:

“[I filmed it] so I could report to police what Vitalijus had done. I didn’t kill him. I didn’t beat him.”

The afternoon finished with Mr Koreiva on the stand beginning his evidence. The trial continues tomorrow.

Harrogate murder suspect claims he feared for his own life after ‘brutal’ assault

A man on trial for murder claimed his friend 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.

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 last week with the prosecution giving evidence. The court heard how Mr Balciauskas’s body was found wrapped in a rug and CCTV footage was shown of the three men buying alcohol in the hours leading up to his death.

Mr Rutowicz took the stand today to begin his defence.

Speaking through a translator, the Polish national said he came to the UK in 2004 and worked as a bricklayer.

After moving to Harrogate in 2019, he developed a friendship with Mr Koreiva and Mr Balciauskas through work.

The three men ended up living together at 6 Mayfield Grove. Mr Rutowicz described Mr Balciauskas as a “brother” and said they would meet in the evenings after work to drink and talk about their future plans.

‘Brutal’ assault

The drinking session that ultimately led to Mr Balciauskas’ death began on December 19. Mr Rutowicz said tensions flared after Mr Koreiva shaved off some of Mr Balciauskas’s hair as a practical joke whilst he was sleeping.

Mr Rutowicz said in the early hours of the next morning the three men ran out of alcohol so Mr Koreiva and Mr Rutowicz took a taxi to Pannal’s BP petrol station to buy more.

They returned to Mayfield Grove at around 5am when Mr Balciauskas challenged the two men to a game of chess, which they often enjoyed playing together while drinking.

Mr Rutowicz said Mr Koreiva erupted in anger during his game with Mr Balciauskas and described the ensuing beating of Mr Balciauskas by Mr Koreiva as “brutal”.

He said:

“Vitalijus was shouting more than Gracijus. At one point Vitalijus got up and threw Gracijus onto the floor from the stool. He started to beat him with his fist and with the heel of his foot.”

Mr Rutowicz then filmed a bloodied and bruised Mr Balciauskas with his mobile phone. He claimed this was to stop the fight and provide evidence that he was not involved in case it was later needed by police.

He said:

“I then decided to start filming. It was brutal. I wanted to use that in order to stop the fight. I approached and started to pull Gracijus away. Vitalijus was beating him and kicking him.”

Read more:

‘If you call the police, I will kill you’

After the assault, Mr Rutowicz said Mr Balciauskas was still alive but fading out of consciousness.

He said he wanted to call 999 but was stopped by Mr Koreiva who said he would kill him if he did.

Mr Rutowicz said:

“He started to threaten me. Gracijus was lying on the floor. I could hear him saying something. I was afraid to approach because Vitalijus told me to stay away or he would kill me.

“At a certain point, Gracijus’s head was drooping. I approached to film him and recorded what he was saying to me.

“I had my phone in my hand and turned towards Vitalijus. I said I was going to call the police. He raised his fist to me and said if you call the police or ambulance, I will kill you.

“That terrified me. I felt fear as if my body was paralysed by it.”

Mr Rutowicz said he and Mr Balciauskas “loved each other like brothers” and maintained that he did not strike or kick him during the assault.

He then went to check his pulse, which was faint. He said:

“Gracijus whispered to me, ‘it hurts’

“I said to him, “brother, everything will be fine, hang in there.”

“He knew I wanted to help him, he said ‘thank you’.”

Mr Rutowicz, who was tearful in court, described the moments after Mr Balciauskas died.

“It was a shock to me. I had lost my brother. I turned my head towards Vitalijus and said, ‘You’ve killed Gracijus. Gracijus is dead.’

“I said, ‘If I had called the ambulance when I wanted to, he would still be alive’.

“But I was threatened. It was a complete nervous breakdown for me. Vitalijus sat and looked at what I was doing. I simply got up feeling broken and sat down on the bed.”

‘Total shock’

With Mr Balciauskas now dead in the flat, Mr Rutowisz claimed Mr Koreiva wanted to cover up the crime and suggested wrapping his body up in a rug before burying him. Mr Rutowisz told the court:

“He said, ‘Shut your trap. I was in prison for four years. I will not go back’.”

Mr Rutowisz claimed he was in fear for his life after Mr Koreiva ordered him to go to Asda on Bower Road to buy more whiskey and cigarettes. He said he would “find him and kill him” if he did not return to Mayfield Grove.

He said the reason he returned to the flat and didn’t call 999 was due to fear.

“Never before had I the feeling that someone could kill me. There was a second feeling of realising that my brother was dead. Those two feelings caused total shock in me and a breakdown.”

After Mr Koreiva fell asleep later that evening, Mr Rutowisz went back to Asda at around 11pm.

He called family members in Poland to tell them what had happened before calling 999 to say there was a dead body at the flat.

He strongly denied telling an Asda employee that he confessed to murdering Mr Balciauskas.

The trial is expected to last until the end of this week.

Forensic experts at serious police incident in Bilton

Forensic teams remain on the scene following a serious incident in Bilton last night.

Yesterday evening, police were called to a property on Byland Road but no further information has been released since.

The Stray Ferret has been down to the address this morning to talk to residents. There is  frustration by the lack of information.

Many are also shocked by what has happened. The property remains guarded by police with forensic teams working under a tent.

At 7.15pm last night North Yorkshire Police released this statement:

“Officers are currently in attendance at a property on Byland Road following an incident earlier this evening.

“The investigation is currently in the early stages and we will issue an update in due course.

“Speculation can often be unhelpful and we ask anyone posting on social media to be mindful of this.”

The Stray Ferret has gone to the police for a further update but received nothing at the time of publication.

Read more:

 

Harrogate council charge police over £110,000 for CCTV since 2016

Harrogate Borough Council has charged North Yorkshire Police over £110,000 to check and supply its CCTV footage since 2016, the Stray Ferret can reveal.

The council has a network of 212 CCTV cameras across the district to help prevent and detect crime. It has a manned control room that operates 24/7.

But it does not supply footage to the police for free and last month the Stray Ferret reported it asks the force to pay a fee of £57 per hour for the service.

We submitted a freedom of information request to the council that asked how much it has charged North Yorkshire Police in total since 2016.

The answer revealed a total bill of £114,005, which amounts to about £20,000 a year on average. The sum fell noticeably during covid lockdowns in 2021/22.

The annual breakdown is below:

Crime prevention

Ripon has been plagued by well-documented anti-social behaviour and crime in recent years.

The council operates 10 CCTV cameras in the city but Andrew Williams, the leader of Ripon City Council and the North Yorkshire county councillor for Ripon Minster and Moorside, said the charge deters police from following up crime reports.

He said:

“It is ironic that Harrogate Borough Council’s homes and safer communities team appears more interested in making commercial charges to the police, rather than working in partnership with them to help in the detection and arrest of criminals.”

Andrew Williams

Cllr Andrew Williams

Cllr Williams calculated that the £18,354 charge for the last financial year worked out at less than one hour of CCTV footage a day.

He suggested this means NYP is being selective in which footage it requests and could be missing out on catching criminals.

He added:

“When considering the size of the Harrogate district and the number of CCTV cameras installed across it, that indicates that police, with pressure on their budgets, are having to be selective in their purchasing of footage and only calling on the services of the HBC CCTV monitoring team for the most serious incidents that they are investigating.”

“At a public meeting in Ripon last month, police admitted that nobody had been arrested for the vandal attacks, in part because they could not pinpoint the exact time of each incident and would have to go through hours of footage, which would not necessarily provide the quality of footage required to identify an individual or individuals.”

Read more:

‘Shameful’ charges

Business owner Andrew Hart, who owns the Red Box post offices in Bilton and Starbeck, has previously raised concerns about anti-social behaviour in both areas.

Mr Hart has two private CCTV cameras in his post offices. He said he supplies any footage to the police for free if they ask for it and called the council’s decision to charge “shameful”.

The council currently operates one CCTV camera in Starbeck.

Andrew Hart

He said:

“We are often needing to refer back to our two CCTV systems on both police and private request. It is something we do out of a sense of duty to both the community and in our joint responsibility to fight anti-social behaviour.

“Yes, it takes time and costs us money but we all have to do our bit, surely. I think it is shameful that any council should charge our grossly overstretched police for this service.”

Council’s response

A council spokesperson said:

“CCTV across the Harrogate district, which is owned and managed by Harrogate Borough Council, has ongoing infrastructure and running costs.

“As well as the costs to maintain the service, there are also costs associated with a CCTV control room, staffing and the on-going safe storage of footage.

“Should anyone wish to obtain a copy of any footage, this would require an appropriate individual reviewing it first, followed by providing the footage securely along with a witness statement. All while adhering to the Data Protection Act 1998.

“Therefore, any third-party that wishes to view and use any CCTV footage – such as an insurance company, enforcement agency or the police – is charged to do so.”

North Yorkshire Police declined to comment.

Suspected drunk driver hits two cars and demolishes wall after Harrogate driveway crash

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after crashing into a Harrogate driveway this week and hitting two parked cars and demolishing a wall.

The driver was in a black Audi A1 when he drove onto the driveway on Kingsley Drive just before 1am yesterday, Wednesday, June 22.

The driver hit the cars with such force he reportedly damaged the garage door behind them too.

He attempted to flee the scene but, with the arrival of other officers and a police dog, a man matching his description was found nearby.

An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and has since been released under investigation while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and use crime reference number 12220107265.

Read more:

 

Harrogate murder trial hears that body was found in a rug

A court heard today how a suspected murder victim in Harrogate was found wrapped up in a rug in a flat on Mayfield Grove after one of his alleged killers told somebody nearby, “I killed a man”.

Vitalijus Koreiva, 36, and Jaroslaw Rutowicz, 38, are accused of murdering Gracijus Balciauskas on December 20 last year.

The trial at Leeds Crown Court, which began today and is due to last for 10 days, tracked the movements of the three men on CCTV.

The court heard a witness statement from an employee at Asda on Bower Road, who found an agitated Mr Rutowicz sitting on a wall by the supermarket on the evening when Mr Balciauskas died.

The employee said Mr Rutowicz appeared to have been drinking and told her “I think I’ve killed a man.”

The court was also played a recording of a 999 call from Mr Rutowicz that took place when he was outside Asda that evening. He told a call handler: “The guy, he’s dead. No, it was an accident. We drink something.”

Two police officers then met Mr Rutowicz at Asda who then walked with him to Mayfield Grove.

Inside, they found Mr Balciauskas wrapped in a rug dead. Mr Rutowicz, of no fixed address, and Mr Koreiva, of Mayfield Grove, were then arrested on suspicion of murder.

Timeline of events

Detective Constable Christopher Williams, from North Yorkshire Police, was cross-examined by prosecuting solicitor Katherine Robinson who went through a timeline of events that led to the arrest.

CCTV captured the last time Mr Balciauskas was seen alive when he went to the Polish shop next door to the flat at 1pm on December 19.

Mr Rutowicz was seen later that evening collecting a pizza takeaway and returning to the property.

In the early hours of the following morning, Mr Koreiva was seen on CCTV pacing around the property before going back inside. At around 3am the pair were seen buying bottles of alcohol and returning.

The next day, Mr Koreiva was filmed visiting the Polish shop next door in his dressing gown and Mr Rutowicz was seen buying more alcohol using the bank card of the suspected victim.

Videos on phone

This morning the court were shown films retrieved from Mr Rutowicz’s phone, timestamped at 5am and 7am on December 20.

They showed Mr Balciauskas still alive but beaten with bruises all over his hands and face whilst inside the Mayfield Grove flat.

The videos showed the two men attempting to give Mr Balciauskas cigarettes and something to drink.

Police later retrieved a photo of the victim taken at 12.04pm that day where he was apparently dead and wrapped in a rug.

More alcohol

An hour before the videos of Mr Balciauskas beaten but still alive were filmed, Mr Rutowicz and Mr Koreiva were seen on CCTV ordering a taxi to Pannal’s BP petrol station to buy more alcohol before returning to the property.

Mr Rutowicz was seen leaving Mayfield Grove at around 10am the next day to buy more alcohol. He was again seen using Mr Balciauskas’s bank card to buy more alcohol at 2pm.

At around 11pm, Mr Rutowicz was captured on CCTV leaving the flat to go to Asda on Bower Street when the 999 call took place.

Arresting officer PC Joseph Horne gave a statement to the court that said Mr Rutowicz was crying and talking on the way to the police station.

PC Horne said:

“I couldn’t understand what he was saying because of his thick accent. When in custody he said ‘It was an accident, my brother is dead I will show you how he did it’.”

The trial continues tomorrow.

Boy, 11, and man seriously injured after blade incident in Beckwithshaw

A boy and a man have been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a major incident in Beckwithshaw this morning.

Armed officers and a police helicopter were deployed at about 8.20am to a house on Church Row in the village.

North Yorkshire Police released a statement minutes ago saying an 11-year-old boy and 40-year-old man had suffered “serious injuries believed to be sustained by a bladed article”.

Both males have been taken to hospital and police remain on the scene.

The statement said:

“Officers were called to a property in Church Row, Otley Road, at 8.20am today and on arrival found an 11-year-old boy and 40-year-old man with serious injuries believed to be sustained by a bladed article.

“Both males have been taken to hospital.

“The incident is not connected to the nearby school.”

This morning, the Stray Ferret received reports of numerous emergency services vehicles and an air ambulance attending the scene.

A police cordon is in place and the road from the roundabout near the cricket club to the junction with Shaw Lane was closed.

One villager told the Stray Ferret the road had reopened.

Read more:

 

Officer who downloaded indecent images ‘betrayed the trust of North Yorkshire Police’

A senior North Yorkshire Police officer has said former officer Christopher Groom ‘betrayed public trust and betrayed North Yorkshire Police’ after he was given a community order for downloading indecent images of children.

Leeds Magistrates Court heard yesterday how Groom, 41, searched the internet for images of youngsters using search terms such as ‘naked young teens’ and ‘youngest naked models’.

Analysis of Groom’s computer tower revealed that he had downloaded 8,707 Category C images of children over what is thought to be a seven-year period.

District Judge Richard Kitson told Groom, of Main Street, Claxton, he would not be sending him to jail because the probation service said he was at low risk of reoffending and could be rehabilitated in the community.

Mabs Hussain

Mabs Hussain

Following the end of the court case, North Yorkshire Police deputy chief constable Mabs Hussain said the force “demands the highest level of integrity from our officers and staff.”

He added:

“This is essential to ensure the communities we are proud to serve have complete trust in their police service.

“The abhorrent and criminal actions of Groom have betrayed that public trust and he has betrayed North Yorkshire Police.”

Read more:

Groom resigned from North Yorkshire Police ahead of his first court appearance on May 18.

An accelerated misconduct hearing will now be considered by the Chief Constable and the professional standards department.

Groom was investigated by NYP’s online abuse and exploitation team.

Detective Sergeant Steve Alderson said:

“The fact that Groom was a serving North Yorkshire Police officer made no difference to how we conducted the investigation.

“He was treated the same as any other member of the public who become subject to a criminal inquiry and court proceedings.

“This case shows the determination of North Yorkshire Police to secure justice against those involved in indecent images of children offences, no matter who they are.”

Police officer avoids jail after downloading 8,000 indecent images of children

A North Yorkshire Police officer who downloaded more than 8,000 indecent images of children has avoided a prison sentence.

Christopher Groom, 41, of Main Street, Claxton, trawled the internet for images of youngsters using search terms such as ‘naked young teens’ and ‘youngest naked models’, Leeds Magistrates Court heard today.

Among the photos downloaded by Groom were sexual images of children between eight and 14-years-old, said prosecutor Charles Macrae.

Groom, who has since resigned from the force, was arrested after police from North Yorkshire’s online abuse team searched his home on December 16, 2021. They seized a computer tower and a mobile phone and took the devices away for analysis.

Groom was brought in for questioning and gave a prepared statement but denied he had been searching for indecent images of children and said he was “shocked” images were found on his device.

Forensic analysis of Groom’s computer tower revealed that he had downloaded 8,707 Category C images of children over what is thought to be a seven-year period.

Mr Macrae said that “file names and internet searches associated with child sexual abuse” were found on the tower.

He was interviewed again in January after the forensic report and provided a further prepared statement in which he claimed he had “not deliberately sought out” indecent images.

Groom, of Main Street, Claxton, was charged with one count of making indecent images of minors between December 2014 and November 2021. He admitted the offence and appeared for sentence today.

Following his arrest, Groom claimed he had initially downloaded what he thought was legal pornography only to find it contained indecent images.

However, the forensic report debunked his claims that the downloads were accidental because “the searches had been made where such (indecent) images were likely to be”.

Read more:

Matthew Savage, mitigating, said Groom was now a changed man having voluntarily enrolled on an offenders’ prevention course. He added Groom had resigned from the force because he “felt that his position was untenable”. Mr Savage said:

“He remains deeply embarrassed and ashamed about his behaviour.”

He said Groom “understands fully the impact that this type of offending has” and that his arrest and subsequent conviction had been a “very salutary lesson”.

‘Not a victimless crime’

District judge Richard Kitson said the huge number of images was an “aggravating factor” in Groom’s despicable offences:

 “You understand that this is not a victimless crime. At some point, these photographs had been taken of very real children who have suffered that abuse.

“You were a police officer for a number of years and you have now lost that. Not only have you lost that employment, the public have lost what under other circumstances was a very good and brave police officer. You were a man not only of good character, but positive character.”

Mr Kitson told Groom he would not be sending him to jail because the probation service said he was at low risk of reoffending and could be rehabilitated in the community.

He said he had also taken account of the steps that Groom had taken to address his offending and his early guilty plea.

Instead, Groom was given an 18-month community order which includes 30 rehabilitation-activity days and 150 hours’ unpaid work.

He was also ordered to sign on the sex-offenders’ register for five years and made subject to a five-year sexual-harm prevention order to allow police to monitor his internet activities.

As part of his notification requirements, Groom will have to periodically report to Scarborough Police Station.