Four witnesses testify in border guard’s fatal shooting trial

A Vilnius court on Tuesday heard testimony from four witnesses in the trial of border guard Karolis Ilgevičius, who is accused of murder in the fatal shooting of a suspected smuggler, LRT reports.

One witness, a man who helped the victim’s partner sell the victim’s Volkswagen car, told the court he does not trade vehicles but agreed to assist as a favour. He said the car was in standard condition and not modified for smuggling. The victim, Andrej A., had expressed interest in buying it and planned to pay in instalments, the witness stated.

A woman testified she saw the victim’s car speeding away from border guards, pursued by an official vehicle. “Both cars were moving at high speed. It was clear the officers were chasing the man’s car,” she said.

Another witness confirmed seeing the victim’s vehicle but avoided directly answering whether it posed a threat. “Let’s say it didn’t pose a danger, but clearly it wasn’t driving at 30 km/h,” he said.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 3 and will be closed to the public. Ilgevičius, a State Border Guard Service (VSAT) officer, denies the charges, which include murder and abuse of authority. Prosecutors allege he fired at the fleeing car without legal justification in July 2024 near the Belarus border, killing the driver, who was later found with contraband cigarettes. The victim’s car struck a tree after the shooting.

Ilgevičius, now working as a surveillance operator at the same border post, claims he feared the suspect could endanger residents of a nearby village. He admitted it was his first time using a firearm on duty.