A man who stabbed his housemate to death believing he was involved in a relationship with a former girlfriend has today, Friday, 12 February, been found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.
He will be sentenced on Monday, 15 February, at the same court
Bernardas Petreikis, a Lithuanian national, 23 (12.6.92) of Shrewsbury Road, Bounds Green, was convicted of stabbing Mantas Augenas of the same address, moments after being told that his former partner had started a secret relationship with the 35-year-old.
The court heard how on the evening of 30 August 2015, Petreikis, his girlfriend Elianna Podlesnaja, and Mantas Augenas had been socialising in the north London garden of the home they all shared.
Petreikius had requested to speak to Elianna at the front of the house before he demanded to know if she had started a relationship with Mr Augenas. She admitted that they were together before Petreikius walked back through the front door and locked Ms Podlesnaja out on the street.
She was able to see through the glass of the front door as Petreikius entered the kitchen, opened the knife drawer and walked into Mr Augenas’ bedroom on the ground floor.
When Petreikius eventually allowed Ms Podlesnaja back into the property she discovered Mr Augenas had been stabbed in the chest and back multiple times. He remained collapsed on his bed and died from his injuries before he reached hospital.
Petreikius fled the property but was quickly located and arrested by police in a nearby park.
He was charged on Monday, 31 August 2015, with the murder of Mr Augenas.
Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Piscopo, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC), said: “Bernardas Petreikis killed his housemate, Mantas Augenas, in a fit of rage after being informed that his former partner was in a relationship with the victim.
“Mr Augenas had been sleeping in his room and had no opportunity to defend himself against Petreikis.
“Mr Augenas was a husband and a father. The vicious attack inflicted upon him by Petreikis has devastated his family and has deprived his child of her loving father.”