Today, the prosecution dropped the murder charge against the husband and wife of five-year-old mother who were found dead in a lake.
Andrius Vengalis 46 was accused of murdering Egle Vengaliene (35-year-old Lithuanian) by holding her below the water in Brandon Country Park, Suffolk last April.
A court heard a witness had initially told police how he had seen Mr Vengalis, who lived near to the 30-acre park with his wife, ‘pumping up and down’ on Mrs Vengaliene in the water.
Later, the witness clarified his story and stated that he saw Vengalis trying to revive her from the water after having pulled her out.
Judge said that prosecutors were facing ‘alternative situations’. He stated that Vengelis had ‘throttled his wife under water’ or tried to save her.
He said, however, that the post-mortem review by two pathologists could not establish whether Mrs Vengaliene had been unlawfully killed or if her death was accidental.
He said there was evidence to suggest that Mrs Vengaliene might have suffered from undiagnosed mental illness.
Today, at Ipswich Crown Court, prosecutors offered no evidence in the case and a not guilty verdict was recorded by Judge Martyn Levett.
He said that Mr Vengalis, who lived with his wife in Brandon, could now be released from custody.
Andrius Vengalis, 46, was accused of killing Lithuanian-born Egle Vengaliene (pictured), 35, by holding her under the water at Brandon Country Park, Suffolk, in April last year
A court heard a witness had initially told police how he had seen Mr Vengalis (pictured here with Mrs Vengaliene), who lived near to the 30-acre park with his wife, ‘pumping up and down’ on Mrs Vengaliene in the water
The court heard a Royal Mail parcel delivery driver saw Ms Vengaliene walking into the woods at Brandon Country Park at 3.30am on April 9 last year.
Judge Levett said: ‘She walked in and then out again without attracting any attention.
‘It was dark and she didn’t have a torch to light her way: she didn’t ask for help, she was wearing a striped T shirt but there was nothing about her demeanour which would have caused concern except for the time of day.
‘Prudently the lorry driver turned back to check on her welfare, but she couldn’t be found.
‘There was no sound, no light, and no noise of any scream or rustling when the lorry driver searched for her.’
Two hours later at 5.15am care workers at the Brandon Park nursing home overlooking the lake, saw Ms Vengaliene tap on the window.
Judge Martyn LEVETT recorded today’s not guilty verdict at Ipswich Crown Court. He stated that Vengalis, who was living with his wife Brandon at the time, might now be freed from custody.
Judge Levett added: ‘She wasn’t injured, she was smiling, she waved, but she looked cold and damp.
‘She mouthed the words “Help me”, but due to Covid restrictions she was not allowed refuge in the home.’
According to the court, she was told by care workers that they saw her at 5.45 a.m. and talked with her. However, she refused their help.
Staff decided to call the police who searched the area and couldn’t find her.
One member of the general public heard screaming while walking along the shoreline at 7am that morning.
Judge Levett said: ‘He saw in the distance a male pumping up and down in the water.
His account later became more precise and showed that CPR was being performed on a female in the water by a man.
‘He later said that he thought that the defendant was pulling the woman out of the water and doing CPR compressions. Her death was certified at 7.42am.’
Judge Levett reported that the first post-mortem exam was ineffective at identifying the cause of death. However, Ms Vengaliene died from drowning.
He added: ‘This early opinion formed the basis of the prosecution’s case which was therefore presented as Mr Vangelis as the defendant, was seen trying to submerge and drown his wife.
‘The eyewitness account of the member of the public neutralised that allegation to suggest an alternative proposition that the defendant was pulling his wife out of the lake and performing CPR on her chest when thigh deep in water.
‘There were alternative scenarios: either, Mr Vangelis was acting unlawfully by throttling and submerging his wife causing her death by drowning or Mr Vangelis was acting as the Good Samaritan, rescuing and attempting to save his wife’s life.’
Judge Levett stated criminal cases were built around evidence. Prosecutions are unsuccessful when the evidence does not support a case.
He stated that post mortem evidence was reviewed by two pathologists, and neither of these reports had given a definitive answer to his allegation regarding any illegal act by the defendant.
Two pathologists reviewed the post-mortem and could not decide if Mrs Vengaliene had been unlawfully killed or if her death was accidental. Photographed: Officers on the scene last April.
Judge Levett said that some of the material was not used and could indicate undiagnosed mental disorders.
Vengalis, who had lived in Brandon with his wife, was now free from custody.
Edmund Burge QC was the prosecution and stated that they had taken the decision not to provide evidence following an extensive review.
He said: ‘All reasonable lines of inquiry have been made by the police and the conclusion was that there is no realistic prospect of conviction.’
Vengalis was arrested five hours after his wife’s body was found and was charged with her murder three days later.
According to her friends, Ms. Vengaliene was originally from Rokiskis, Lithuania. However, she had been living in the UK for seven years.
Her family said in a tribute ‘Egle Vengaliene, at the age of only 35-years-old, passed away on 9th April, 2021.
‘She was loving, caring and devoted to her family, radiating optimism, cheerfulness and positive energy and believing in her family’s bright future.
‘She leaves behind five of her children, who will have to grow up without their mother’s love and will always long and mourn their mother. Protect your children from heaven and rest in peace.’
A friend described her as a ‘a good mother’ and a ‘pretty woman’ as well as a ‘beloved daughter and sister’.