Criminal proceedings for attempted murder have been initiated in connection with the incident and the detained woman has been remanded in custody, the police said. In addition, the detainee had also burgled an apartment on the same day.
On Thursday, May 16, in the early afternoon, a woman born in 1949 was going by bus from the Kauguri market to the Kauguri Park neighborhood in Jūrmala. A younger woman, whom she did not know, was sitting opposite her on the bus.
The woman got off the bus in Telšu Street and went to her place of residence, the stranger also got off the bus and followed her. At 11:20, while walking along Rūpniecības Street, the stranger, without saying anything, attacked her from behind with a knife, hitting her several times and stabbing her at least twice with it. When the victim fell down, the assailant also tried to stab her in the chest. Fortunately, the woman fought off the stabbing attempt, whereupon the perpetrator calmly left the scene, leaving the victim alone.
The victim walked to her residence and called emergency services.
CCTV cameras were deployed at the crime scene and the Jūrmala Municipal Police promptly provided the State Police Jūrmala Police Station with a video recording of the crime.
On the morning of the same day, a mobile phone was stolen from an apartment in Kauguri, Jūrmala. The owner of the apartment recognized the same woman as the robber of his flat.
The officers immediately arrested the alleged perpetrator and took her to the police station. She was found to be under the influence of 4 promille (0.4% BAC) of alcohol.
The detainee was born in 1980 and had one previous conviction for theft.
The suspect claims that she does not remember the attack and cannot explain her actions.
In connection with the attack on the woman, criminal proceedings have been initiated for attempted murder, punishable by life imprisonment or imprisonment for 5 to 20 years and probation supervision for up to three years. The woman is also prosecuted for theft from an apartment.
On May 18, the court remanded the suspect in custody.
