Birute Klicneliene trial: Woman found guilty of Dace Kalkerte's murder at King's Lynn Highgate flat

A woman who was accused of stabbing another to death at a Lynn flat has been convicted of her murder.

The jury trying the case of Birute Klicneliene, 50, of Sir Lewis Street, who was charged with the murder of Dace Kalkerte at a Highgate flat in April, has this afternoon found her guilty of the offence.

After deliberating for eight hours and 21 minutes, the jury of nine men and three women delivered a unanimous guilty verdict at Lynn Crown Court a short time ago.

The trial, which lasted for almost two weeks, heard that Klicneliene and Ms Kalkerte, who had only met for the first time that day, travelled back to the victim's flat on Friday, April 15 after spending the evening drinking alcohol with their partners at an allotment. The men remained at the allotment, while the women returned to Highgate.

Giving evidence, Klicneliene, who is originally from Lithuania, had claimed she had been sleeping at the victim's flat when she woke up to a noise and found Ms Kalkerte, who hailed from Latvia, was bleeding by the door. She had denied murder and told the court that she "couldn't have" killed Ms Kalkerte.

But during the trial, prosecutor Andrew Jackson had said something had happened between the two women which led to a "terrible explosion of violence".

The court was told that neighbours heard screaming during the evening, and Klicneliene asked one of the other occupants of the Highgate block of flats for help.

Ms Kalkerte was found with a total of 25 stab injuries at around 12.30am on Saturday, April 16. She was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Lynn, where she later died.

Forensic analysis of the murder scene showed there wasn’t any sign of forced entry to the flat or any evidence of blood from the top of the stairway to the communal front door.

It did, however, confirm traces of diluted blood in the flat and when officers arrived, Klicneliene’s clothing was stained with blood, but her hands were clean.

She was arrested on suspicion of murder in the early hours of Saturday, April 16 together with two men. The men have been told no further action will be taken against them by police.

Forensic evidence suggested that a knife and a kettle were used in the attack that killed Ms Kalkerte.

Following today’s conviction, senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Chris Burgess from the Joint Major Investigation Team at Norfolk Police, said: “What happened in that flat on that evening that caused Klicneliene to do what she did is beyond our comprehension.

"This was a sustained and brutal attack, and it is difficult for us to understand why she behaved with such deliberate and directed violence.

"Only Klicneliene knows why she acted like this.

“Dace’s partner and children are forced to deal with the aftermath of her tragic death, and I am grateful for their support and bravery throughout this investigation.

"Thankfully, incidents like this are rare in Norfolk.

"I hope today's guilty verdict offers Dace’s family some resolution and closure and that Klicneliene will, perhaps one day, take responsibility for her actions.”

Klicneliene is expected to be sentenced in January 2023.