Car thief jailed for killing man with single punch

A car thief has been jailed for manslaughter after killing a 68-year-old man in east London with a single punch.

Evaldas Simanaitis was found seriously injured outside his home in Leytonstone just before 04:00 BST on 16 October 2023 and died 10 days later from his head injuries.

Edgaras Motiejunas, 24, who admitted the charge, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Motiejunas, of New Road, Rainham, punched Mr Simanaitis "hard in the face" to the floor, before stealing his car from Matcham Road.

The court that Mr Simanaitis immediately fell backwards after being struck and hit the back of his head on the stone pavement which caused a severe injury to his brain.

Prosecutor Sam Trefgarne said that rather than helping 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, who had worked as a mechanic, was arrested by police after being found in possession of a key that fitted Mr Simanaitis' Toyota Avensis.

The defendant, known as Ignas, had also pleaded guilty to the theft of the Toyota Avensis car on 16 October 2023, but denied robbery.

Motiejunas, who had numerous previous convictions in Lithuania and Germany, left Lithuania as a teenager and travelled to England via Ireland, without proper documentation, aged 20.

Judge Simon Mayo KC said the stealing of the car was a "seriously aggravating factor".

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mayo said: "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, who has the same name, Evaldas, said he was "upset, anxious and stressed" by his father's death.

In a personal impact statement, he told the court: "I cannot come to terms with the loss of my father. I think about him every day."

Defending, Leila Gaskin said Motiejunas would "bear a heavy burden for his actions for the rest of his life".

Ms Gaskin added: "He accepted that his unlawful actions led to the death of Evaldas Simanaitis and he takes full responsibility for that."

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