Episode 90: Jolanta Bledaite

Murder She Spoke

Episode 90: Jolanta Bledaite. This week Joannagh talks us through an infamous and horrific crime from 2008, which would come to be known as the 'Head on the Beach Murder'.
The victim of this barbaric crime was a 35-year-old migrant worker from Lithuania by the name of Jolanta Bledaite.
We hear how Jolanta's remains were initially discovered by two young girls playing on Seagate beach in Arbroath, which led to the Police underwater search and rescue dive team searching Arbroath Harbour for further remains.
Police soon had 2 men under arrest, who they suspected of murdering Jolanta for the purposes of stealing her savings.
Joannagh discusses details of the trial and sentencing, as well as the public outcry into how one of the suspects was able to enter the UK when it was revealed that he had a previous conviction in Germany for manslaughter.
Case research by Joannagh Shanks
Produced by Emma Taylor & Joannagh Shanks
Editing by Shaun O'Neill
Music by Tribe of Noise
Sources of research:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/mystery-severed-head-found-arbroath-beach-2464894
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7332697.stm
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/39963/Murder-hunt-after-head-is-found-on-Scottish-beach
https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/the-face-of-the-woman-whose-severed-head-washed-up-on-beach-6640355.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7867815.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7874493.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7879160.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7883793.stm
https://metro.co.uk/2009/02/13/ex-soldier-guilty-of-womans-murder-459100/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7872495.stm
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/mar/06/russians-jailed-murder-severed-head
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/exsoldier-guilty-of-headonbeach-murder-1608870.html