Car Thief Jailed for Manslaughter After Fatal Punch

An individual who stole a car has received a prison sentence for manslaughter, following the death of a 68-year-old man in east London caused by a single punch. Evaldas Simanaitis was discovered severely wounded outside his residence in Leytonstone shortly before 04:00 BST on 16 October 2023, succumbing to his head injuries 10 days subsequent to the incident. Edgaras Motiejunas, aged 24, who pleaded guilty to the offense, received a five-year prison sentence at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. According to prosecutors, Motiejunas, residing at New Road, Rainham, struck Mr Simanaitis “hard in the face,” causing him to fall, prior to taking his vehicle from Matcham Road. The court heard that Mr Simanaitis instantly collapsed backward upon being hit, striking the rear of his head on the stone pavement, resulting in a severe brain injury. Prosecutor Sam Trefgarne stated that instead of assisting Mr Simanaitis, who was lying “unconscious or semi-conscious” on the floor, Motiejunas “callously left him there bleeding and disorientated while he stole his car”. Motiejunas, a former mechanic, was apprehended by law enforcement after a key matching Mr Simanaitis’ Toyota Avensis was discovered in his possession. The accused, also identified as Ignas, had previously admitted guilt to the theft of the Toyota Avensis vehicle on 16 October 2023, but contested the robbery charge. Motiejunas, possessing a history of multiple convictions in Lithuania and Germany, departed Lithuania during his teenage years and journeyed to England through Ireland, lacking appropriate documentation, at the age of 20. Judge Simon Mayo KC commented that the act of stealing the car constituted a “seriously aggravating factor”. During his sentencing remarks, Judge Mayo stated: “Rather than remain at the scene and summon help for Mr Simanaitis you left him lying unconscious on the pavement and drove away in his car.” Mr Simanaitis’ son, also named Evaldas, expressed that he felt “upset, anxious and stressed” following his father’s demise. In a personal impact statement, he informed the court: “I cannot come to terms with the loss of my father. I think about him every day.” Defense counsel Leila Gaskin asserted that Motiejunas would “bear a heavy burden for his actions for the rest of his life”. Ms Gaskin further stated: “He accepted that his unlawful actions led to the death of Evaldas Simanaitis and he takes full responsibility for that.”