A DIVORCED mum-of-three faces life in prison after setting up a “medieval” fight-to-the-death between two admirers. Asta Juskauskiene, 35, left Giedruis Juskauskas, and started seeing Mantas Kvedaras, after meeting the 25-year-old online after he left a Lithuanian prison. But she continued to have sex with Juskauskas, the father of one of her children. And so […]
A DIVORCED mum-of-three faces life in prison after setting up a “medieval” fight-to-the-death between two admirers.
Asta Juskauskiene, 35, left Giedruis Juskauskas, and started seeing Mantas Kvedaras, after meeting the 25-year-old online after he left a Lithuanian prison.
But she continued to have sex with Juskauskas, the father of one of her children.
And so after both men claimed to be with her she decided to settle the argument with a fight in an alleyway in Stratford, east London.
Kvedaras admitted murder after stabbing his love rival 35 times to the body and neck on June 17 last year.
Mother-of-three Juskauskiene denied but was convicted of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice after a five week trial at Kingston Crown Court.
She stood expressionless in the dock wearing a grey chequered dress with a white blouse collar and as the verdict was delivered.
Judge Peter Lodder QC, said he will sentence Juskauskiene and Kvedaras together next month.
Prosecutor Hugh Davies said Juskauskiene had discussed the purpose of the fight with her pal Jurgita Sulciene.
He told the court: “That purpose was for the men to settle the issue in relation to the defendant with violence – in effect a latter-day medieval duel.
“Juskauskiene is a manipulative and controlling figure central to the orchestration of these events.
“She knew in advance that Mantas Kvederas was intending to use serious violence and cause at least serious harm to Giedrius and she encouraged, assisted and intended to do this.”
Juskauskas was found bleeding to death in Whalebone Lane, Stratford at 12:30am on 17 June.
He suffered at least 35 stab wounds to the body and neck, probably from a single knife, with 11 wounds to the neck alone.
Mr Davies added: “This was not a fist fight that escalated: it was a murderous assault with a single bladed knife with death as the inevitable outcome.”
Ms Sulciene said in her statement: “Asta then suggested to both of them to meet in some street in Romford where lots of drug dealings were taking place.
“Her reason for this was because this way, if something happened, it would be blamed on the drug dealing,’ Ms Sulciene told police.
“This made it clear to me that it would mean that somebody would be seriously hurt or killed.
“Asta implied to me that she wanted the two men to have a fight for her and whoever won would stay with her.”
Juskauskiene, a home-visiting care worker of Iron Mill Lane, Dartford, Kent, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice.
Kvedaras, of no fixed address, admitted murder.
They will return for sentence on February 7 at Kingston Crown Court.
