Lawyer for slain paramedic says authorities could have disclosed more

The lawyer representing the family of Mantas Sadauskas, a paramedic killed in Panevėžys, has suggested that investigators could have been more transparent about key details of the case, including the fact that the victim was shot, jp.lt reports.

Advocate Algimantas Kolpertas, who represented Sadauskas in his divorce proceedings, confirmed that the case was dismissed by Kaunas Regional Court following the paramedic’s death, as Lithuanian law automatically terminates marriage upon the death of one spouse. However, Kolpertas noted that the marriage technically remains valid, leaving unresolved questions about inheritance and custody of the couple’s two young children.

The lawyer also addressed the ongoing criminal investigation into Sadauskas’ killing, in which his estranged wife, Justina Gaigalaitė, and another individual, Vilius Solkanas, have been detained as suspects. While prosecutors had requested a longer pre-trial detention period, the court limited it to two months—a decision Kolpertas attributed to judicial efficiency.

“Courts generally aim to avoid prolonged proceedings in criminal cases,” he said. “Two months should suffice for prosecutors to gather necessary evidence.”

Kolpertas criticised authorities for not publicly confirming that Sadauskas died from gunshot wounds, a detail already known through family statements. “Officials could have disclosed this at a press conference without compromising the investigation,” he said.

Reflecting on Sadauskas’ character, the lawyer described him as “a good man and father,” noting that a lower court had previously ruled in his favour in the custody dispute. “The most painful aspect is what the children—just five years old—will endure. This is a lifelong trauma for them,” Kolpertas said.

The case has drawn public attention due to its brutal nature—Sadauskas was killed in a public space—and the unresolved legal and emotional fallout for his family.