Asta Juskauskiene (pictured) arranged a deadly ‘medieval duel’ between her ex-husband and her lover to see which of her two admirers would win her hand
The moment a mother-of-four waved goodbye to her lover as she sent him off on the bus to murder her ex-husband has been revealed in chilling CCTV images.
Asta Juskauskiene, 35, arranged a ‘medieval duel’ to the death to see which of her two admirers would win her hand and has since been jailed for life.
She left her husband Giedruis Juskauskas for Mantas Kvedaras, after meeting the 25-year-old online following his release from a Lithuanian prison for rape.
The care worker ended the relationship with Mr Juskauskas, 42, who continued to provide financial support for their daughter.
But both men claimed Juskauskiene as their own and she decided to settle the argument with a fight to the death in an alleyway in Stratford, east London.
Kvedaras stabbed his love rival 35 times to the body and neck on June 17 last year and then bought Juskauskienea pizza to celebrate.
The CCTV images show Mantas Kvedaras waving goodbye to Asta Juskauskiene from a bus just before the murder. The murder weapon – a knife – was found in a bin.
Chilling CCTV images show Mantas Kvedaras waving goodbye to Asta Juskauskiene from a bus just before the murder
Juskauskiene’s ex-husband Giedruis Juskauskas, 42, (left), was stabbed 35 times by her lover Mantas Kvedaras, 25, (right), when they met in Stratford, east London, on July last year
Juskauskiene had been warned Kvedaras was dangerous but said: ‘I think I will play until I get into trouble. I probably like the risks, dangers.’
She was convicted of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice after a five week trial at Kingston Crown Court.
Juskauskiene stood expressionless in the dock as Judge Peter Lodder jailed her for life with a minimum term of 24 years
Kvederas was sentenced to life with a minimum off 22 and a half years for murder.
Juskauskiene (pictured) stood expressionless in the dock as Judge Peter Lodder jailed her for life with a minimum term of 24 years
The murder weapon – a knife – was found in a bin. Kvedaras stabbed his love rival 35 times to the body and neck on June 17 last year
Juskauskiene was still in a physical relationship with her ex-husband despite their divorce in December 2018 when her lover Kvedaras flew to stay at her east London home.
Both men claimed her as their own so she decided to settle the argument with a fight to the death in an alleyway in Stratford – a duel that she meticulously arranged while at home looking after her children, the youngest of which she shared with Mr Juskauskas.
Kvedaras, who admitted murder, stabbed his love rival 35 times to his body, chest and neck on June 17 last year, leaving Mr Juskauskas to bleed to death at the scene
But both men claimed Juskauskiene (pictured with Mantas in a shop before he left on the bus) as their own and she decided to settle the argument with a fight to the death in an alleyway in Stratford, east London
Juskauskiene (pictured) was yesterday jailed for live with a minimum term of 24 years for arranging the fight to the death between her two male admirers
In sentencing her today at Kingston Crown Court, Judge Peter Lodder QC said: ‘You deliberately and cynically lured Mr Juskauskas into a dark alley where just after midnight you, Mantas, slaughtered this drunk and defenceless man.
‘Such was the speed and the surprise of your brutal knife attack, that he suffered 35 individual wounds to his neck, head, arms and body, by contrast you, Mantas walked away without a mark.
‘The force you used was sufficiently great that he suffered many wounds that were deep enough to cut through bone, and one passed through his neck. He bled to death in but a few minutes.
‘That he was taken off-guard is clearly demonstrated by the circumstances of this attack.
‘Mr Juskauskas had been Asta’s third husband and was the father of her five year old daughter.
‘But you two regarded him as an unwelcome irritation to your relationship and so you resolved to get rid of him.
Juskauskiene (pictured) had denied the charges but was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court
Kvedaras (pictured) had begun a relationship with Juskauskiene following his release from prison in Lithuania
‘It was your joint plan that he would be seen as victim of a drug deal that had gone wrong, and you meticulously planned it in the belief that the police would not be able to track this attack back to you.’
Earlier Hugh Davies, prosecuting, had told the court that Juskauskiene had discussed the purpose of the fatal meeting with her friend Jurgita Sulciene.
‘That purpose was for the men to settle the issue in relation to the defendant with violence – in effect a latter-day medieval duel.’
Kvedaras had begun a relationship with Juskauskiene following his release from prison in Lithuania.
‘Giedrius was however still on the scene,’ said Mr Davies. ‘He regularly visited the address to see his daughter.
‘He had not wanted the divorce. He was providing financial support for his daughter and maintaining a sexual relationship with the defendant.
‘In their different ways each man felt that they had claims over Asta Juskauskiene. The situation was inevitably going to come to a head.
Mantas Kvedaras (circled) on his way to the location in Stratford, east London where the ‘duel’ took place
Juskauskas was found dying from multiple stab wounds this lane in Stratford, East London
‘It did come to a head in Whalebone Lane on that Monday morning.
‘Giedrius and Mantas had obviously met there by arrangement rather than by chance: neither was anywhere near where they lived, and telephone records demonstrate there was repeated communication between them during the day of Sunday 16 June as they travelled from different locations to the scene.
‘Juskauskiene is a manipulative and controlling figure central to the orchestration of these events.
‘She knew in advance that Mantas Kvederas was intending to use serious violence and cause at least serious harm to Giedrius and she encouraged, assisted and intended to do this.
‘Juskauskiene then actively assisted Mantas in removing his important documents from her house.
‘She harboured him at her house following the murder, she selectively deleted text messages from her mobile phones before they were seized by police, and she lied repeatedly in interview.
Mr Juskauskas was found with stab wounds to the body and neck, probably from a single knife, with 11 wounds to the neck alone.
The case is being heard at Kingston Crown Court in South West London (file picture)
Juskauskiene, a care worker, of Iron Mill Lane, Dartford, Kent, was convicted of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing.
She was sentenced to two years for perverting course of justice to be served concurrently.
Kvedaras, of no fixed address, admitted murder.