Courts / Louth / Report

Trial to continue with murder accused only, judge tells jury

Date
2015-04-27

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Louth

County
Louth

Summary

In a murder trial in Drogheda, Judge Margaret Heneghan decided to continue the case with only one defendant, 52‑year‑old Marius Gaizutis, after initially having two. Gaizutis admitted killing 44‑year‑old Audrius Butkus, whose body was found on a Louth beach in 2013. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter at arraignment. The co‑accused, 53‑year‑old Aivers Sonders, was charged with assisting an offender by moving the body, cleaning the scene and disposing of evidence, and pleaded not guilty to all three counts. The judge told the jury that they would no longer consider Sonders. The trial continues with further evidence, including CCTV footage of the night of the murder. The case remains at the Central Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Trial to continue with murder accused only, judge tells jury. Charges or matters: three counts of assisting an offender on the same dates by impeding Mr Gaizutis's apprehension or prosecution; all three counts; murdering Audrius Butkus at that address on the 9th or 10th of September, 2013; murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court last Monday morning. Procedural stage: trial

When:

September 9 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
September 9 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-04-27 Publication

Case subjects

Aivers Sonders

Accused

Charges: three counts of assisting an offender on the same dates by impeding Mr Gaizutis's apprehension or prosecution; all three counts (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Marius Gaizutis

Accused

Charges: murdering Audrius Butkus at that address on the 9th or 10th of September, 2013; murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court last Monday morning; three counts of assisting an offender on the same dates by impeding Mr Gaizutis's apprehension or prosecution; all three counts (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty