Peterborough man murdered wife with ‘knives and hammers,’ jury told

Andriejus Kostiajevas, (47), is accused of murdering his wife of 20 years, Ligita Kostiajeviene, (42), in Cromwell Road, Peterborough, on July 2 last year.

He denies all charges against him.

Kostiajevas stabbed her in their bedroom before resuming the attacklater when she “retreated” to the corner of another room, Cambridge Crown Court was told.

The BBC reported that Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC told the jury “the case is set in the context of domestic violence” and the couple had a “turbulent” relationship.

Mr Trimmer said Ms Kostiajeviene, described as the family breadwinner, had spoken about leaving “but never actually found the courage to do it”.

He told the jury on that morning a woman went to the house and opened the door to the couple’s bedroom to find Kostiajevas “standing over Ligita with a knife”.

The woman was then herself stabbed in the back before she was chased down the stairs, Mr Trimmer said.

As events progressed upstairs Ms Kostiajeviene and a child in the house at the time had moved into another bedroom and the child said they saw Kostiajevas “repeatedly hit Ms Kostiajeviene with something”, before the child was also attacked, the jury was told.

The court heard emergency services found Ms Kostiajeviene “slumped in the corner of the room between the bed and the wall partially covered with bedding” with a knife still in her neck.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and a post-mortem examination found she had a broken skull and multiple stab wounds, the jury heard.

Kostiajevas has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent.

The case continues.