Herefordshire father jailed for 18 years for killing friend after party
Kestutis Lekunas, 36, grabbed a knife from his kitchen before going out into the street and killing his friend
A Ross-on-Wye man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for killing one of his friends in broad daylight.
Kestutis Lekunas, 36, had been holding a party at his home in Bluebell Close in October 2022 before an argument started with a friend.
It was at 9.30am the morning after the party when Lekunas and the victim, 40-year-old Nerijus Liukpetris, were involved the disagreement.
Worcester Crown Court heard how Mr Liukpetris went to his car and took a golf club from the boot, threatening violence towards Lekunas.
But Lekunas then went back into his home, took a knife from the kitchen counter and went back outside.
Prosecution barrister Tim Harrington said Lekunas, 40, had run at the victim with the knife, but was then hit three times by the golf club.
After chasing Mr Liukpetris down the street, Lekunas stabbed him with the nine-inch kitchen knife before walking back towards his house and phoning the emergency services.
Defence barrister Felicia Davy said it suggested Lekunas regretted what he had done immediately, and he had expressed remorse since.
Judge James Burbidge said Lekunas had good references and was of previous good character, with no previous convictions in the UK or in Lithuania.
For 12 years he had been working hard in the UK, providing for his wife and two children, and was described as quiet and calm by neighbours.
He even said Lekunas was a loving, family man and it was a "tragedy of significant proportion".
Lekunas, found guilty of murder by a jury, was jailed for 18 years with a minmum term of 18 years before the parole board could consider him for release.