This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7888259.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Head-on-beach jury considers case Head-on-beach jury considers case
(30 minutes later)
The jury in the Jolanta Bledaite murder trial has been sent out to consider its verdict.The jury in the Jolanta Bledaite murder trial has been sent out to consider its verdict.
Ms Bledaite was murdered at her home in Brechin last March. Her head was later found washed up on Arbroath beach by two young sisters who were out playing.Ms Bledaite was murdered at her home in Brechin last March. Her head was later found washed up on Arbroath beach by two young sisters who were out playing.
Judge Lord Pentland told jurors to put any sympathy for the dead woman or any revulsion about the case out of their minds while deciding their verdict.Judge Lord Pentland told jurors to put any sympathy for the dead woman or any revulsion about the case out of their minds while deciding their verdict.
Vitas Plytnykas, 41, from Lithuania, denies murdering Ms Bledaite.Vitas Plytnykas, 41, from Lithuania, denies murdering Ms Bledaite.
Fellow Lithuanian Aleksandras Skirda, 20, has already admitted killing the 35-year-old Lithuanian woman in Angus.Fellow Lithuanian Aleksandras Skirda, 20, has already admitted killing the 35-year-old Lithuanian woman in Angus.
Lord Pentland told jurors: "You must put out of your mind any feelings of sympathy you might have for anyone affected by this case, the deceased woman Jolanta Bledaite or anyone else."
He said the jury had heard evidence of a "sufficient nature" in law to entitle them to find Mr Plytnykas guilty of the charges he faces.
But he added: "It's for you to decide whether you accept the evidence as credible or reliable."
Vitas Plytnykas denies any involvement in Ms Bledaite's death
Mr Plytnykas chose not to take the stand during the trial, but the jury was told not to read anything into this decision.
"That was open to him and no adverse inference should be drawn against him because he has not given evidence," the judge added.
Lord Pentland told jurors that if they decided Skirda and Mr Plytnykas were acting together as part of a "criminal enterprise" they were entitled to return a guilty verdict regardless of the "precise role" either played.
Mr Plytnykas pled not guilty to five charges, including murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
The murder charge alleges he held Ms Bledaite against her will, bound her legs, hands and arms, put tape over her mouth and nose and demanded that she give him the Pin number for her bank cards.