Jury hears man accused of Littlehampton Christmas Day murder ‘lied’ to police

Vaidas Juras, 34, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his brother Bronius Juras, 38, at a flat in Beach Road, Littlehampton, last year.

However, a jury at Lewes Crown Court, has heard evidence this morning which claims Juras deliberately lied to police about his brother’s alleged murder.

Juras, wearing a grey sweater and grey jogging bottoms, took to the stand as part of the closing period of the defence’s case.

While Juras was being cross examined, prosecution barrister, John Causer, said that Juras’ sister, Asta Juraite, had lied about the alleged stabbing.

Mr Causer said that Mrs Juraite had called police and claimed that her brother, Bronius, was stabbed by “the English” in the street, Beach Road – a lie which Mr Causer claimed Juras joined in on.

Mr Causer questioned Juras, saying: “When Asta made a 999 call she told a lie to the operator that the stabbing had happened outside.

“Did you join in that lie when police came, by saying ‘The English did it’?”

Speaking though an interpreter, a visibly emotional Juras said: “It wasn’t a lie, it wasn’t a lie.”

Mr Causer questioned Juras whether he had understood what his sister had said, while on the phone to the emergency operator.

Juras replied: “I understood somethings and somethings I didn’t understand.”

He continued: “I was repeating what I was hearing.

“It’s not a lie because I didn’t see the conflict.”

However, Mr Causer argued that Juras knew “perfectly well” what state his brother was in and where he had been injured.

“Mr Juras, you know perfectly well that the serious injury Bronius received was in the lounge,” he said.

When questioned by lead defence barrister Camden Pratt QC about the alleged encounter, Juras said: “I didn’t kill my brother.”

Mr Pratt asked if Juras had any intention of causing serious bodily harm to Mr Juras, to which Juras replied, “no, no”.

The jury are due to return tomorrow (Friday, August 10) to hear the closing speeches of the defence and prosecution.

The trial is expected to continue into next week.