Regional court increases prison sentences of couple involved in murder of seven-year-old girl

RIGA - The Latgale Regional Court, hearing the murder case of seven-year-old Justine Reinikova on appeal, increased the prison sentences of the accused girl's father and stepmother to 23 and 20 years, respectively, LETA found out from the court.

Justine's father Vladimirs Reinikovs and stepmother Sandra Reinikova were initially charged with 20 years and 17 years in prison respectively.

The ruling can still be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Both defendants were found guilty of cruel and violent treatment of Justine, a minor, as well as guilty of murder of the girl, committed in a group of persons, knowing that the minor child was in a helpless state and that as a result of their violent actions, the death of the girl could occur, and knowingly allowed indifference to the occurrence of the death of Justine. Subsequently, in order to conceal the traces of the crime committed, the corpse of the girl was concealed and the police were misled about her disappearance.

The Prosecutor's Office informed that according to the initial indictment, the two persons - Justine's father and stepmother - in their residence in Rezekne district, under the influence of alcohol, started a mutual conflict over domestic dispute against little Justine, because they could not cope with the upbringing and care of the girl.

The defendants, being aware that Justine, who is a minor and physically unable to resist the violent acts directed against her, was with them at the time, started shouting at the girl and deliberately hitting her on her body and head, causing serious bodily harm to the girl, which resulted in her death.

As reported, Justine from Rogovka village in eastern Latvia went missing in May 2023, was found dead in late June that year, and injuries on her body suggested that she had probably been murdered.

Two persons - the dead girl's father and stepmother - were detained on suspicions of killing the child. According to police representatives, the girl's body with visible injuries was found in a cellar of an abandoned house in the midst of a forest, several dozen kilometers from the girl's home.

The family of the missing girl had been known to custody court staff. The girl's father and stepmother with four children were newcomers in the area, the family had moved to Rogovka about six months before the crime. Due to her health problems, the girl did not attend the local school. The girl's biological mother reportedly lived abroad at the time.