‘Scheming divorcee’s medieval duel ends in murder’

A DIVORCED mother arranged a “latter-day medieval duel” between her former husband and younger lover which ended in a fatal knifing, a court heard.

Scheming Asta Juskauskiene, 35, was alleged to have set up the fight to see which of her suitors had the greater claim to her.

Her ex Giedruis Juskauskas, 42, suffered at least 35 stab wounds and was found bleeding to death at 12.30am at the scene of the showdown in an alley.

A court was told love rival Mantas Kvedaras, 25, had gone intent on causing serious harm and had committed a “murderous assault”.

Kvedaras has already admitted murder.

But Juskauskiene – described as a “manipulative and controlling figure central to events” – denies conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice.

Relationship

Jurors at Kingston Crown Court, southwest London, were told she had discussed a meeting between the two men with a friend.

Prosecutor Hugh Davies said the idea was for them “to settle the issue in relation to the defendant with violence, in effect a latter-day medieval duel”.

The court heard victim Giedruis had not wanted a divorce and was still maintaining a sexual relationship with his ex-wife at her home in Dartford, Kent.

But in the meantime Juskauskiene had also begun seeing Kvedaras, who had come to Britain after being released from jail in Lithuania.

Mr Davies said: “Each man felt they had claims over Asta Juskauskiene. The situation was going to come to a head.”

He said the defendant encouraged the younger man to inflict serious violence and helped him after the murder by removing documents and deleting texts.

But later she tried to distance herself from both, the court heard. The trial continues.