Freed Rape Suspect Sought Over Kilkeel Killing

A foreign national who embarrassed officials when he was freed by mistake from a high security jail in Co Antrim last autumn is being sought over a shock Co Down murder.

After last weekend's shooting in Kilkeel, the PSNI have appealed for help in tracing the runaway, Devidas Paliutis, (pictured) as they want to question him in connection with the murder of 29-year-old Dmytro Grytsunov who was shot in Rooney Park in Kilkeel on Saturday night.

Paliutis originally left Maghaberry Prison - where he was being held on charges of rape, burglary and false imprisonment - after the Prison Service was told that holding charges had been withdrawn.

However, they but did not realise he had been returned for trial to the Crown Court on other charges.

The Lithuanian man, who is aged 27, had just appeared at Newry Magistrates Court via a video link from Maghaberry Prison and the Prison Service was advised that the holding charges were withdrawn from the Magistrates Court.

They failed to act on the notification that other charges had been substituted - for which he was returned for trial to the Crown Court - and erroneously released Paliutis.

Now, the PSNI want to speak to Mr Paliutas and another man, Ernestas Rudeckis, in relation to the shooting, but the police have urged the public not to approach either of them.

Meanwhile, another man has been arrested on Tuesday evening, in connection with the killing at Rooney Park while a 32-year-old woman remains in police custody.

Mr Grytsunov, who was originally from Ukraine, died after being shot in the chest.

Three other men who were being questioned about his murder have since been released on police bail and a 39-year-old woman has been released unconditionally after a follow-up search saw police recovering a firearm and ammunition.

See: Freed Prisoner Embarrassment For Minister

(BMcC/GK)