Attackers posed for photos next to unconscious vegetable picker, court hears

A "hardworking" vegetable picker was beaten within an inch of his life as his attackers posed for photos next to his unconscious body as if he were a trophy, a court heard.
"Hardworking" vegetable picker Alberts Volkausks who was beaten within an inch of his life as his attackers posed for photos next to his unconscious body as if he were a trophy. Photo credit: Lincolnshire Police/PA Wire"Hardworking" vegetable picker Alberts Volkausks who was beaten within an inch of his life as his attackers posed for photos next to his unconscious body as if he were a trophy. Photo credit: Lincolnshire Police/PA Wire
"Hardworking" vegetable picker Alberts Volkausks who was beaten within an inch of his life as his attackers posed for photos next to his unconscious body as if he were a trophy. Photo credit: Lincolnshire Police/PA Wire

Alberts Volkausks, 44, died in hospital after allegedly being tied to a chair, gagged and urinated on before being beaten with fists, feet and other items by seven men on the afternoon of September 23 last year.

A jury at Nottingham Crown Court heard how the victim had been lured to the address on Pen Street in Boston, Lincolnshire, as one defendant sent a message out which read: "Come, we'll beat a guy up. Need people."

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After the incident, one defendant allegedly put his foot on the Latvian national's broken chest while another took a picture on his smartphone.

Mr Volkausks was still alive after the attack but the prosecution said his injuries were so severe that he died less than 24 hours later in hospital.

Pavel Grunt-Meyer, 30, Denis Kijakovskij, 28, Mindaugas Cerneckas, 29, Andrius Barauskas, 39, Tautvydas Vainolavicius, 20, Marjus Tomasevic, 19, and Donatos Dektiariovas, 37, all of Boston, deny murdering Mr Volkausks.

On Thursday, Prosecutor David Herbert QC said: "Alberts Volkausks was lured to the address where he was essentially beaten to within an inch of his life in a sustained group attack.

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"He was tied up, he was gagged, he was urinated on and essentially left for dead while some of the defendants spoke of how they would dispose of his body."

The prosecution said one defendant told police Mr Volkausks had "got some beating" and "when he fell to the floor, he got more of a beating".

Mr Herbert continued: "Another defendant messaged a friend of his and openly told her what happened.

"He said 'we have assaulted one guy and tied him up and left him at home'.

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"Two other defendants showed pride in what they had done - one posed with a foot on their battered victim's broken chest, as if he were a trophy, while the other took a photograph with his smartphone."

Mr Herbert added: "There will be no dispute that he got an absolute beating."

The trial, expected to last for eight weeks, continues.