Peterborough: Killer Jailed For Life
A man has been jailed for life for a murder and attempted murder in Peterborough.
22-year-old Andrejus Ruljevas, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to murder and attempt murder at a previous hearing.
Ruljevas broke into a property in Gilpin Street during the early hours of 17th October 2012 and waited in the dark for his intended victim to return.
At around 6am Saulius Grigoravicius returned home from work and was pounced on by Ruljevas who stabbed him more than 50 times.
During the attack Ruljevas realised he had the wrong man.
Leaving the fatally injured 20-year-old Saulius in a downstairs bedroom he waited in the dark for around an hour before his intended victim arrived home from work.
As 22-year-old Vladislavas Kuznecovas walked into the house Ruljevas attacked him from behind, stabbing him numerous times.
He managed to fight him off and immediately recognised Ruljevas and asked him what he was doing.
After a long struggle Ruljevas eventually fled the scene and the victim called an ambulance, at which point he noticed Saulius unconscious in the bedroom.
Paramedics were unable to revive Saulius who died as a result of a stab wound to the chest.
Vladislavas was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries and had to have surgery but was discharged several days later.
He remains on pain medication.
Following the double stabbing Ruljevas fled to Ely and a wanted appeal was issued.
He was arrested in Pizza Express in the city on October 19 after he was unable to pay for a meal.
The restaurant manager explained he was calling the police at which point Ruljevas confessed he had murdered a man and stabbed another in Peterborough.
Armed officers were called to the scene and arrested him.
He was jailed for life on both counts, with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder and a minimum of 10 years for attempted murder to run concurrent.
Detective Chief Inspector Tim Redfearn said: "These were savage attacks that resulted in the death of one young man and left another lucky to be alive.
Both men had come over to this country to make a life for themselves and earn a living and Ruljevas ended this dream for one of them and left Vladislavas with life-long physical and mental scars.
On the morning of his murder Saulius had walked a colleague home to ensure she got there safely, something he had done every time they worked together. But tragically for him it was his last act of kindness.
He was a young man with everything to live for who, tragically, just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
We believe this whole incident was over a £200 debt owed by Vladislavas to Ruljevas, a debt he intended to repay, and it is absolutely no justification for Ruljevas' actions.
Had it not been for the rucksack worn by Vladislavas and the fact he managed to break free we could easily have been dealing with two murders.
I hope this result will provide the surviving victim and both families with some comfort that justice has been done and my thoughts remain with them at this time."
Saulius Grigoravicus' brother released a statement on behalf of the family, saying: "The family have been devastated by the loss of Saulius and are finding it difficult to come to terms with the circumstances in which he lost his life.
Saulius came to England to make a better life for himself which tragically came to an end in this unprovoked attack.
He was a fun loving person who had the rest of his life to look forward to and was loved dearly by his family.
No prison sentence will ever be enough or bring him back to us.
We would like to thank the police and our family liaison officer for their hard work."