Murder in Riga staged as suicide: suspect faces life imprisonment
State police has completed an investigation into a murder committed in Riga in December, in which the suspect attempted to conceal the crime. The case has been forwarded to the Riga East Prosecutor's Office.
Murder staged as suicide discovered in Riga — suspect placed knife in victim's hand
State police has completed an investigation in a criminal case concerning a murder committed in Riga in December of last year, reports apollo.lv. During the investigation, it was established that the suspect attempted to stage the victim's suicide in order to conceal traces of the crime.
On 17 December 2024, State police officers, responding to an emergency call, arrived at Pērnavas iela in Riga, where they found the body of a man at his residence with four stab wounds — signs of violent death.
On the same day, police detained a man born in 1988, who during the pre-trial investigation was recognised as a suspect. The man had not previously been convicted of criminal offences.
During the investigation, it was established that the suspect was acquainted with the deceased. During a conflict, whilst intoxicated, he intentionally inflicted four stab wounds on the victim, which caused death. After the crime, the suspect took the murder weapon and placed a different knife in the victim's hand to make the incident appear to be a suicide. He discarded the actual weapon used in the crime on cemetery grounds, but during the pre-trial investigation it was found and seized.
Criminal proceedings were initiated under Article 116 of the Criminal Law for murder. For such an offence, the law provides for life imprisonment or deprivation of liberty from five to 20 years, as well as probation supervision of up to three years.
On 1 June this year, law enforcement officers from the State Police Criminal Police Bureau handed over the materials of the criminal case to the Riga East Prosecutor's Office for the initiation of criminal prosecution.
State police reminds that no person shall be considered guilty unless their guilt has been proved in the manner prescribed by law.
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)