Aivarsas Sondorsas says he helped conceal body because he feared for his life

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Aivarsas Sondorsas told an Irish court that he helped dispose of a murder victim’s body and clean blood from a shared home because he feared he would be killed if he did not help. The proceedings were reported on 2 June 2016.

The report said Sondorsas was accused of helping remove the body from the house and leave it on a beach in September 2013. It also said he was suspected of destroying evidence and failing to tell the authorities about the crime.

Sondorsas said he helped Marius Gaižutis carry the body from the house, put it in a car boot and leave it on a beach. He said Gaižutis then told him to help clean the basement. Sondorsas maintained that he acted under coercion and felt that Gaižutis would kill him if he did anything wrong.

The report said Audrius Butkus was murdered in September 2013 and his body was found at Mornington Beach. Gaižutis had been sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder. The proceedings involving Sondorsas were continuing.