Courts / Dublin / Report
Estonian hitman not present at murder of pop star's lover, eyewitness said
Summary
The High Court has adjourned the extradition appeal of Imre Arakas (62) to Lithuania. Arakas, currently serving a six-year sentence in Portlaoise Prison for conspiring to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland in 2017, is challenging a European Arrest Warrant. Lithuanian authorities allege he conspired to murder Deimantas Bugavicius in 2015, alongside firearms and criminal damage charges. Arakas pleaded guilty to the Gately conspiracy in December 2018. During the hearing, defense counsel cited an eyewitness who identified Arakas as not present at the Bugavicius scene, arguing no decision to prosecute had been made. The Minister for Justice's counsel countered that the warrant was issued for criminal prosecution. Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the matter, directing counsel to draft questions regarding the Lithuanian authorities' intention to try Arakas at the time the warrant was issued. The resumed hearing is fixed for July 15, with a mention scheduled for July 12. Arakas was remanded in custody until next month. His current sentence expires in October 2029.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Estonian hitman not present at murder of pop star's lover, eyewitness said. Charges or matters: conspiring with others to murder Mr Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 2018 Incident
- April 3 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2018 Incident
- June 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 9 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 15 Adjournment
- July 12 Adjournment
- October 2029 Adjournment
- April 3, 2017 Other
- April 2017 Other
- 2021-06-22 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: conspiring with others to murder Mr Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Imre Arakas (62), who was jailed for his role in a Kinahan cartel murder plot and is currently serving his sentence in a segregated block in Portlaoise Prison, is challenging a bid to extradite him to Lithuania. However, Arakas was jailed by the non-jury Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after he pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Mr Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017.; Arakas, a former freedom fighter who was previously part of a movement to separate Estonia from the former USSR, was remanded in custody until next month.
Places mentioned
- High Court
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Portlaoise
- Portlaoise Prison
Topics
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