Jelgava court hands probation to two men over injuries caused in fights

The Zemgale District Court in Jelgava heard two criminal cases this autumn involving bodily harm inflicted during fights. In both, the convicted men, Jānis V. and Normunds R., were sentenced to probation supervision, a penalty that does not involve imprisonment. Both rulings have entered into legal force.

Fight outside a nightclub

Jānis V. was charged with deliberately causing minor bodily harm to another person in a fight outside a nightclub. According to the indictment, at about 3 a.m. on 14 July 2024 he was outside the club and noticed a conflict between other people. He joined in and, out of anger, struck a man in the face with his right fist at least twice. That man was later recognised as the victim in the criminal proceedings.

A forensic medical examination found facial bruising with haemorrhage and a cut wound on the inside of the lower lip. The victim had also lost an intact tooth on the left side of the upper jaw, and another tooth on the right side was damaged, with its crown broken off. These injuries were classified as minor bodily harm that caused short-term health impairment lasting from seven to 21 days.

The ruling

Judge Andris Škutāns announced the ruling on 2 October. Jānis V. was found guilty of the offence he was charged with and sentenced to probation supervision for one year and six months. He was also ordered to pay the victim 2,163 euros in material compensation and 700 euros in compensation for moral harm. The ruling took effect on 13 October.

The source gives no further details about the case of Normunds R.