Court keeps police officer accused in Priekule death in custody

The Kurzeme Regional Court on Monday upheld the detention of a State Police officer suspected of fatally beating a man in Priekule, LSM reports.

The officer’s lawyer had appealed the detention order.

The victim was Normunds Vamzis, a teacher and head of the Clothing Design programme at Liepaja Music, Art and Design Secondary School. The incident took place in late July, when the junior police inspector allegedly killed the man while off duty.

The State Police opened criminal proceedings over the intentional infliction of serious bodily harm that caused the victim’s death through the perpetrator’s negligence. The Internal Security Bureau confirmed that a police officer had been detained on suspicion of committing the crime and was placed in custody on July 27.

State Police Chief Armands Ruks said the detainee had told investigators that he did not remember what happened. Interior Minister Janis Dombrava said after the tragedy that the State Police planned to introduce alcohol testing as a preventive measure.