Lithuania is trying to recover from a shocking crime that has stirred not only the country but has also reached far beyond its borders. A man suspected of murdering two young women has been taken into custody. The involvement of local residents in the apprehension of the criminal has sparked discussions about whether this was a risk of encountering something akin to a 'Lynch Court', reports TV3 News.
Benas Mikutavičius, brought to court, did not answer journalists' questions. Therefore, it remains unknown whether he regrets his actions.
In the courtroom, he did not hide his face but continued to remain silent there as well. He only occasionally shrugged his shoulders and looked at the handcuffs.
Mikutavičius is connected to one of the most high-profile crimes in Lithuania in recent years. Last week, two girls were murdered in Kaunas. They had stab wounds. During the investigation, it became known that one of the victims was his cousin.
The motives for the suspect's actions are still unclear.
"He was not interrogated about the details of the incident. He indicated that he partially admits his guilt. He was very reticent, and his answers had to be literally drawn out," noted Judge Jolanta Ramonyenė.
Currently, the most severe preventive measure has been applied to the suspect – a three-month arrest.
Residents played a significant role in the possible apprehension of the murderer. Locals self-organized with the help of a mobile application. About 1,000 people participated in total.
The suspect was identified in one of the parks. It should be acknowledged that discussions are currently taking place in Lithuania regarding both the ethical and legal aspects of such actions.
Part of society criticized what happened, calling it vigilantism, and the police also warned against attempts to detain the murderer, as he could be armed. Opinions among Lithuanians are divided.
"What did you want – for him to be hugged? It's good that he was caught, otherwise he would have hidden. He would have run away," says one local resident.
"Well done, locals, we would have done the same! But if you think about those girls… It's some kind of horror," says another resident.
Another man notes: "It's clear that emotions are involved, but in principle, we should have waited for the police."
One woman disagrees with calling the detention 'vigilantism'. "It's too much to call it vigilantism. I am a mother myself and understand what people who have lost children feel," she said.
In any case, few Lithuanians remained indifferent to the events in Kaunas.
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