One year since Justine’s murder: what has happened this year and how far has the criminal case progressed?

The Latgale district court in Ludza will continue to consider the criminal case of the murdered seven-year-old Justine Reinikova today at 1 pm in a closed court session, LETA agency found out in court.

Valerij Petrovskis, the defense attorney of Justine’s stepmother Sandra Reinikova, who was previously accused, told LETA agency that the trial could go smoothly and a first-instance verdict could be expected in August or September.

Charges have been brought in the case for murder under aggravating circumstances, that is, if the murder was committed in a group of persons and the murdered person was in a helpless state, and for cruel and violent treatment of a minor, if this resulted in physical or mental suffering to the minor. The girl’s father and stepmother are accused in the case, LETA agency was informed by the prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutor’s office informed that, according to the indictment, the two persons – Justine’s father and stepmother – at their place of residence in Rēzekne district, under the influence of alcohol, started a mutual conflict over domestic claims against little Justine, because they could not cope with the upbringing and care of the girl.

The defendants, aware that Justine, who is a minor and helpless due to her age, is with them at that moment and cannot physically resist the violent actions directed at her, started shouting at the girl and intentionally hitting her on the body and head, inflicting severe injuries on the girl. personal injuries that resulted in Justine’s death.

In order to hide the traces of the committed crime, the girl’s body was hidden in the basement of an abandoned house and the State Police and the public were deceived about Justine’s disappearance.

On May 5, 2023, information was received that seven-year-old Justine had gone missing in Rogovka, Nautreni Parish, Rēzekne County. Over the course of a month and a half, various search efforts were carried out involving extensive forces.

Since the first days of the girl’s disappearance, law enforcement officers have been working with several versions, including that a criminal offense may have been committed against her.

On the night of June 20, the police detained the girl’s father and stepmother on suspicion of a possible criminal offense against the girl. On the other hand, the girl’s body with obvious injuries was found buried in the basement of an abandoned house, in the middle of the forest, several tens of kilometers from the girl’s place of residence – in the place where Justine’s father once lived.