A lawyer representing a man accused of murder in Aberdeen city centre has claimed his client has no history of violence – unlike his co-accused.
Tomas Gulbinavicius, 33, and Janis Karajevs, 30, are both alleged to have killed Aleksejus Zarskus by repeatedly punching and kicking him and stamping on his head at their home on King Street in January this year.
Mr Zarskus was taken to hospital but died three days later from his injuries.
Gulbinavicius invited the other two to come and live with him after they had each become homeless.
The jury at Aberdeen High Court heard previously that the accused both denied any form of assault and blamed each other for the death.
Yesterday defence counsel Murray Macara, representing Gulbinavicius, pointed to the records of the two accused when urging the jury to convict Karajevs and acquit his client.
He said: “My client is 33 years of age and has no previous convictions for violence.
“Mr Karajevs has seven convictions for assault and has been to prison five times.
“Five of these assaults involved a previous partner.
“He said he had no reason to attack Mr Karajevs but did have a good reason to attack his partner, that is an extraordinary thing to say.”
Earlier in the day Advocate Depute Ashley Edwards urged the jury to convict both men of the murder of Mr Zarskus.
She claimed the two men had acted together to attack their housemate.
She said: “You may think the two accused did not mean to kill Mr Zarskus, but ladies and gentlemen they inflicted horrendous injuries to his face by punching, kicking and stamping on it.
“His face was so damaged that his skeleton became mobile.”
Defence counsel Neil Murray, representing Karajevs is expected to conclude closing speeches today.
Both men deny the charge against them.
The trial, before Lord Uist, continues.
