CANTERBURY MAN JAILED FOR LIFE AFTER KILLING GIRLFRIEND
A 32-year-old man named Tomas Uptas was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend, Loreta Raupiene, aged 46, in Canterbury.
The court heard that he strangled her following a relationship marred by frequent disputes over money, as neither of them was employed.
Witnesses described Uptas as possessive and aggressive, particularly when he was drunk, and he had previously issued threats to end her life.
On the day she died, Raupiene sent a text message to a friend stating, "Tomas is an animal, not a human being," which revealed her fear.
Forensic evidence linked fibers from her scarf to her neck and confirmed her DNA on Uptas.
His aggressive and unpredictable behavior had been apparent before, including threatening members of the public and police while intoxicated, with one instance involving a gun aimed at shoppers.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 18.5 years to be served behind bars.
The court dubbed him a "violent and volatile man who murdered Loreta Raupiene in cold blood," and underscored the significant impact his crime had on her loved ones and the wider community in Canterbury.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
threatening members of the public and police while intoxicated, with one instance involving a gun aimed at shoppers. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 18.5 years to be served behind bars. The court dubbed him a "vi...
Life or indeterminate sentence
18.5 years
He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 18.5 years to be served behind bars
Prison sentence
18.5 years
He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 18.5 years to be served behind bars
