An isolated and vulnerable woman who faced alcoholism and cancer was stamped to death by her controlling partner that she relied on.
Dzilva Butiene, a mother-of-two, was murdered by Kestutis Bauzys on 5th of April 2017. Mrs Butiene was decovered in the flat they shared, she had over 60 bruises and marks all over her body. The ambulance service raised their concerns with police after they believe she died some time before they were called at 8:30pm. Bauzys continuously told paramedics that the injuries were due to her alcoholic ways and she just fell over.
After long investigation it was found that Bauzys had went to a local shop around 8pm and told the shop assistant that his wife was not breathing. He also spoke to a member of public that asked her to call an ambulance, but the woman was unable to help as she spoke no English.
Mrs Butiene was unable to find work after her treatment for cervical cancer in 2014 and only had a few close friends. Due to not knowing many people or having work she relied on Bauzys more than anyone. The pair had known each other since school and persuaded her to move to the UK where he was already living. He promised her she would have a better lifestyle over in the UK therefore, she moved there in September 2013. She was described as a “tiny, meek woman” by a previous employer, while he was known to be a body builder who used steroids.
A post mortem was carried out and concluded that Mrs Butiene died of trauma to the abdomen that as caused the ripping of her liver in two different places. Bauzys was arrested after he was found sleeping in a tent in woods by the A47 on 13 April 2017.
Cambridge Crown Court decided that he would spend a minimum of 17-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of killing Dzilva Butiene.
Detective Inspector Alan Page, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “This was a horrendous case of domestic abuse behind closed doors. Bauzys consistently lied claiming Mrs Butiene had caused her injuries herself from falling over. The expert medical evidence stated that these type of injuries would be seen either from a forceful assault, a fall from a first floor building or a high speed road collision where the victim wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.”
He added: “We established that Mrs Butiene had not left the flat and that Bauzys had been the only person in her company at the time she would have received the fatal injury. In this case officers had not received any previous reports of domestic abuse. We would urge anyone who finds themselves in an abusive relationship, please find the courage to tell someone. You don’t have to come direct to police but it’s not acceptable to live with abuse.”
