COBALT’s successful pro bono defense in an 8-year criminal case

COBALT Senior Associate Linas Kuprusevičius successfully defended and later represented Jurgita Jankauskienė in a tragic case that attracted great public interest. The woman was charged with the death of her daughter in a car accident on 1 November 2014. Almost 8 years after the tragedy, the court decision was made in favour of the family of the deceased girl. Contrary to the initial accusations, the other driver of Audi Q7 was found guilty of causing the traffic accident when he was overtaking the convoy of cars at high speed and failed to pass the left-turning Toyota Avensis driven by J. Jankauskienė.

After the car accident, the family of Jankauskai had to face many challenges because a pre-trial investigation was started immediately, after which charges were brought against the mother of the deceased girl. J. Jankauskienė was accused of driving recklessly and causing the traffic accident. In 2020, the court acquitted the woman, stating that J. Jankauskienė did not violate any requirements of the Road Traffic Rules at the time of the traffic accident. The court ruling which claimed that another participant in the accident may be to blame was sent to the Kaunas District Prosecutor’s Office after the verdict came into effect. In May 2021, a new pre-trial investigation was started. During the second pre-trial investigation, the circumstances of the incident were additionally investigated and new data significant for the investigation was obtained. In February 2022, the pre-trial investigation was completed, and the criminal case was referred to the court.

As the statute of limitations was coming to an end, the court managed to examine the case on time. On 25 July 2022, the judge of the Prienai Chamber of the District Court of Alytus found the driver of Audi Q7 guilty and sentenced him to 3 years in prison, with its execution suspended for 18 months. The convicted person was also deprived of the right to drive vehicles for one year. The parents of the deceased girl were awarded pecuniary and EUR 28,000 for non-pecuniary damage each.

COBALT Senior Associate Linas Kuprusevičius and the team prepared procedural documents, provided legal advice to J. Jankauskienė, represented her interests during the pre-trial investigation and the judicial process pro bono.