Courts / Louth / Report
Jury to decide whether 55-year-old cleaned up murder scene under duress
Summary
A 55‑year‑old man, Aivars Sondors, stands trial in the Central Criminal Court for three counts of assisting an offender by impeding the investigation of a homicide. The alleged offence involved the murder of 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, who died from a violent and bloody assault before his body was dumped on Mornington Beach. Sondors is accused of moving the body from a house on Marsh Road, cleaning the basement, and disposing of carpet, clothing, a nail brush, a bin bag, bottles and tins at Burke House. He pleaded not guilty, and his defence argues that he acted under duress. The jury, sworn in on 19 June 2017, will decide whether duress applies to the alleged acts. The trial is scheduled to last seven days under Mr Justice Paul Coffey. Audrius Butkus was convicted. Aivars Sondors was convicted.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury to decide whether 55-year-old cleaned up murder scene under duress. Charges or matters: all three counts and a jury of eight men and four women was sworn in to try him; the murder of Mr Butkus on May 1, 2015. "Notwithstanding the efforts of Mr Gaizutis and Mr Sondors to clean up the scene, there was evidence that a violent and bloody assault had occurred in the basement of Marsh Road," he said; three counts of assisting an offender on September 9th or 10th 2013 by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, knowing or believing him to have unlawfully killed 44-year-old Audrius Butkus. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Convicted
When:
- September 9th Hearing Or Sentence
- September 9, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 1, 2015 Incident
- September 10 Incident
- 2017-06-19 Publication
Why: "The defence case is that when Mr Sondors did those acts, he did so under duress and did so because of the situation he was in," said Mr Fitzgerald. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: three counts of assisting an offender on September 9th or 10th 2013 by impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Marius Gaizutis, knowing or believing him to have unlawfully killed 44-year-old Audrius Butkus; all three counts and a jury of eight men and four women was sworn in to try him; the murder of Mr Butkus on May 1, 2015. "Notwithstanding the efforts of Mr Gaizutis and Mr Sondors to clean up the scene, there was evidence that a violent and bloody assault had occurred in the basement of Marsh Road," he said (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted
Defendant
Charges: all three counts and a jury of eight men and four women was sworn in to try him; the murder of Mr Butkus on May 1, 2015. "Notwithstanding the efforts of Mr Gaizutis and Mr Sondors to clean up the scene, there was evidence that a violent and bloody assault had occurred in the basement of Marsh Road," he said (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted
Places mentioned
- Drogheda
- Marsh Road
- Central Criminal Court
- Marsh Road
- Mathew's Lane
- Burke House
- Marsh Road
- is attached to Laytown Garda Station
Topics
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