Responsibility for murder of woman in Jekabpils lies fully with the state - Levits

RIGA - Responsibility for the recent murder of a woman in Jekabpils lies fully with the state, President Egils Levits belives. 

The president plans meetings with State Police chief Armands Ruks and Prosecutor General Juris Stukans at the beginning of May to sort out responsibility for the killing of the woman in Jekabpils. 

Levits indicated in an interview with the online channel DelfiTV on Tuesday that the woman had done everything she could to secure protection from her former partner but that the protection was not provided. In the president's opinion, all responsibility for the tragedy lies fully with the state but it is still necessary to figure out whether it was the police, the prosecutor's office or court that failed to protect her. 

The president said that some legislative amendments might be needed to prevent such cases from repeating in the future, but added that a "sensible lawyer would have taken the right decision even with existing legislation". 

As reported, on April 16 in Jekabpils municipality, a 40-years-old woman was stabbed and killed by her former husband in the presence of her child and mother. Before the deadly attack, the killer had been stalking and threatening the woman who repeatedly reported his threats to the police, but when the man attacked his ex-wife with a knife, the law enforcement authorities failed to protect her. 

State Police chief Ruks has ordered an inquiry to make sure the police response had been "in line with the law, sufficiently active and professional".