Rēzekne murder case sent to court: two men charged with especially cruel killing

A criminal case in which two men are charged with intentional killing of a person as a group, committed with particular cruelty, has been referred to the Latgale District Court, the prosecutor's office reports. The incident dates to 4 January this year in Rēzekne, a city in Latvia's Latgale region.

Course of events according to prosecutors

According to the prosecutor's office, on that day both accused and an acquaintance were drinking alcohol together in an apartment in Rēzekne rented by one of the accused. During a conflict, the cause of which has not been established, the accused acted jointly and killed the acquaintance.

The charges state that the men were aware their actions caused the victim particular suffering. They are alleged to have struck him at least 39 times on the head, abdomen and chest. In addition, one of the accused seized the victim by the neck and strangled him forcefully, while the other deliberately stabbed him in the abdomen. Prosecutors consider that these actions knowingly prolonged the killing and the onset of death.

The victim died at the scene from combined bodily trauma directly linked to the actions of the accused.

Aggravating circumstances

Both men have previously been convicted of intentional criminal offences, including one for a murder committed as part of a group. This, along with the fact that the killing was committed under the influence of alcohol, is regarded as an aggravating circumstance.

The accused do not admit guilt. The prosecutor's office reminds that no person is considered guilty until guilt in committing a criminal offence has been established in the manner prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Law.