Man Acquitted of Assault After Neighbor Disputes Over Lakeshore Access

A Lithuanian man has been cleared of assault charges after a lengthy court process concerning two altercations with his neighbors in 2023. The legal saga concluded with the Supreme Court acquitting Giedrius, who had previously been convicted of minor bodily harm.

“

Giedrius G. attacked me, pushed me, maybe tried to take the phone from my hand, – said the victim.

The initial incident occurred on July 22, 2023, at his father's property in Trakai district. While Giedrius and a neighbor attempted to clear reeds from a lakeshore on adjacent property, the owners of that land confronted them. The female neighbor claimed Giedrius attacked her, pushed her, and tried to take her phone, causing her to fall. Giedrius countered that she initiated physical contact by grabbing his hood and that he did not assault her. He stated he took the phone only to retrieve a lawnmower that the neighbor had confiscated as evidence for the police. Medical experts later confirmed bruises on the woman's arm and finger.

“

I did not push and did not hit her at all.

A second confrontation took place a month later, on August 19. Giedrius's family was visiting the property when neighbors approached him as he was mowing the lawn. The neighbors reportedly accused him of trespassing on their land. Giedrius stated he went to retrieve his children, who were near the lake, but the female neighbor became aggressive and blocked his path. He claimed he pushed her away twice when she lunged at him, causing her to fall onto a pile of branches she had placed on the path. She sustained abrasions and bruises on her thigh and knee.

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She suddenly lunged at me, I pushed her away with my hand and she stumbled, resting on the ground with her hands, and fell on her knees onto a pile of branches, which she herself had placed on the path so we could not pass towards the lake.

On May 5, 2025, the Vilnius Regional District Court acquitted Giedrius. The court's ruling stated that he committed no crime during the first incident. Regarding the second incident, the judge decided to release the accused, implying a finding of self-defense or lack of criminal intent.

“

I repeated three times not to jump on me, but she got up and attacked again. Then I pushed her away one more time.