Relative held after elderly woman found dead in central Riga flat

A man suspected of fatally beating an elderly relative in central Riga has been detained and remanded in custody, Latvia’s State Police told the LETA news agency on Friday, 13 November.

Police were called to a flat in the city centre on 5 November over the death of a woman of pension age. Officers found her lying dead on the floor with clear signs of a violent death. They detained a relative at the flat, a man born in 1978 who shared the household with her.

What the police say

Initial police findings show the woman died of multiple injuries inflicted by the relative, who struck her several times. A breath test showed the man had 2.7 per mille of alcohol in his breath. Police said he called the emergency services himself afterwards.

A court ordered on 7 November that he be held in custody. The criminal case was opened under Section 125(3) of the Criminal Law, which covers intentional grievous bodily harm that negligently causes the victim’s death and carries a prison sentence of three to 15 years.

Police are still establishing the motive and said the charge may change as the investigation goes on. No one is considered guilty until proven so in accordance with the law.

Where to find help

If you or someone close to you faces violence at home, call 112 in an emergency. The free helpline for victims of crime, 116006, is open daily from 12:00 to 22:00, and the 24-hour crisis line is 116 123.