Court extends detention of suspect in paramedic’s murder

Panevėžys District Court on Thursday extended Vilius Solkanas’ pre-trial detention by one month in the murder case involving paramedic Mantas Sadauskas, LRT reported.

According to the court’s press office, the detention was extended on the grounds that Solkanas might flee or hide from investigators, prosecutors or the court, and might commit further crimes.

Solkanas is suspected of intentional murder, unlawful deprivation of liberty and illegal possession of psychotropic substances.

On Wednesday, the court also extended by one month the detention of another suspect in the case, Justina Sadauskienė, the paramedic’s former wife. She has been charged with intentional murder and unlawful deprivation of liberty.

Sadauskienė’s father, Biržai doctor Egidijus Gaigalas, was also detained in connection with the case. He was released on August 6 after being placed under two other preventive measures: a 10,000-euro bail payment and a written pledge not to leave.

Gaigalas is suspected of illegally possessing firearms, ammunition, explosives or explosive substances, as well as illegally possessing narcotic or psychotropic substances with the intent to distribute them, or possessing a very large quantity of such substances.

Sadauskas’ body was found on April 21 on the grounds of a homestead in Panevėžys District. Investigators suspect the body had been wrapped in a trampoline and buried there. A weapon was found during an inspection of the scene.

Sadauskas’ father told reporters that his son had said he received an order to deliver a trampoline to a children’s event at a kindergarten. After Sadauskas went missing, the profile of the person who had ordered the trampoline was found to have been deleted. The local elder in the area where the trampoline was supposedly ordered told reporters there was no kindergarten there.

According to officials, the motive for Sadauskas’ murder may have been related to personal disagreements.