Man convicted of murder in village near Lincoln

A man faces a sentence of life imprisonment after a jury today (Wednesday) found him guilty of carrying out a murder in a Lincolnshire hamlet.

Rolandas Karbauskas, 48, was on trial at Lincoln Crown Court and had denied the murder of Saulius Badgziunas, 58.

But a jury found Karbauskas guilty of murder after deliberating for over nine hours.

Karbauskas showed no reaction as the jury foreman returned the guilty verdict by a 10-2 majority.

Judge Simon Hirst told Karbauskas he will be sentenced on Friday morning.

Saulius Badgziunas was found fatally injured. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police

“Mr Karbauskas I will sentence you at 10am on Friday,” Judge Hirst told him.

“You will no doubt know a life sentence awaits you. The only thing I need to determine is what the minimum sentence will be.”

Mr Badgziunas was discovered fatally injured at a property in School Lane, Broadholme, near Saxilby, on Monday, March 14.

The weapon used to kill Saulius Badgziunas. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police

John Lloyd-Jones KC, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Badgziunas died from a single stab wound to the back inflicted by Karbauskas, who lived in a caravan on School Lane.

Mr Lloyd-Jones said the stab wound was around 20cms in its tract, and had passed through the deceased’s back muscles, into his left chest cavity, and through part of his heart before ending up at the breast bone.

According to the pathologist, the stab wound would have required at least severe force to inflict, and was with a weapon with a double cutting blade, Mr Lloyd-Jones added.

Karbauskas, who listened to the trial via a Lithuanian interpreter, was arrested and interviewed.

He told police he was not responsible for stabbing Mr Badgziunas, but chose not to give evidence from the witness box during his trial.

A thorough investigation by forensics experts and investigators from Lincolnshire Police and the East Midlands Specialist Operations Unit (EMSOU), revealed damning evidence pointing to Karbauskas guilt.

Lead investigator, Detective Inspector Adrian Czajkowski from EMSOU, said: “This was a brutal and callous murder of Saulius.

“On the March 14, 2022 at his home which he shared with his family in the village of Broadholme, he was mercilessly stabbed in his back with a dagger by Rolandas Karbauskas.

“Not content with his savage actions, he then dragged Saulius down the garden in an attempt to conceal his body out of sight by depositing him behind a large wooden shed before the family returned home.

“Our thoughts are with his daughter and her family. They have lost a devoted father and grandfather and struggle to understand why. I hope that today’s verdict will secure justice for Saulius.

“I wish to thank the family and witnesses who have come forward to support the investigation. I also want to thank the officers and staff from Lincolnshire Police and the team at EMSOU who have pulled this complex and emotive investigation together.”

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