Five convicted in severe abuse case against disabled minor
A Lithuanian appeals court has upheld convictions against five individuals for serious crimes committed against a disabled underage girl, overturning earlier acquittals in the case, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced on Tuesday.
The Vilnius Regional Court, reviewing the case on appeal, rejected all defence motions and fully satisfied the prosecution’s request to convict the defendants on all charges. The ruling follows a 2025 decision by a lower court that had acquitted one defendant and partially cleared others of some offences.
The harshest sentence—a six-year prison term—was handed to the individual found guilty of raping the minor, unlawful detention, and causing minor bodily harm. Four others received sentences ranging from two to five and a half years for crimes including illegal detention, physical assault, participation in sexual offences, and other violations. One woman was given an 18-month suspended sentence.
The defendants were also ordered to jointly compensate the victim for non-material damages.
According to case materials, in August 2022, four men and three women—acting as a group—exploited the helplessness of the disabled minor in Vilnius. They forcibly took her to an apartment in the Old Town, where they detained her against her will, subjected her to physical violence and sexual abuse, and stole her personal belongings. The crimes resulted in health complications for the victim.
The investigation was led by the Vilnius City District Prosecutor’s Office, with support from the Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat. The lower court’s 2025 verdict had drawn criticism from prosecutors, who argued it relied on improper evidence assessment and misapplication of criminal law. The appeals court overturned parts of that ruling, confirming guilt on additional charges, including rape and unlawful detention.
The trial was held behind closed doors. The verdict may still be challenged before Lithuania’s Supreme Court within the legally prescribed period.