Prosecutors have today dropped a murder charge against the husband of a mother-of-five who was found drowned in a lake.
Andrius Vengalis, 46, was accused of killing Lithuanian-born Egle Vengaliene, 35, by holding her under the water at Brandon Country Park, Suffolk, in April last year.
A court heard a witness had initially told police how he had seen Mr Vengalis, who lived near the 30-acre park with his wife, 'pumping up and down' on Mrs Vengaliene in the water.
The witness later clarified his account and said he believed he had seen Mr Vengalis attempting to resuscitate her after pulling her out of the lake.
A judge said prosecutors faced 'alternative scenarios' - that Mr Vengelis 'throttled and submerged his wife' or was 'attempting to save her'.
But a post-mortem, reviewed by two pathologists, could not determine whether Mrs Vengaliene was unlawfully killed, had taken her own life or whether her death was accidental.
He also said there had been material to suggest Mrs Vengaliene may have had undiagnosed mental health issues.
Today, at Ipswich Crown Court, prosecutors offered no evidence in the case and a not guilty verdict was recorded by Judge Martyn Levett.
He said that Mr Vengalis, who lived with his wife in Brandon, could now be released from custody.
Mr Vengalis is thought to have been held in custody for some nine months, since his arrest last April.
Andrius Vengalis, 46, was accused of killing Lithuanian-born Egle Vengaliene (pictured), 35, by holding her under the water at Brandon Country Park, Suffolk, in April last year
A court heard a witness had initially told police how he had seen Mr Vengalis (pictured here with Mrs Vengaliene), who lived near to the 30-acre park with his wife, 'pumping up and down' on Mrs Vengaliene in the water
The court heard a Royal Mail parcel delivery driver saw Ms Vengaliene walking into the woods at Brandon Country Park at 3.30am on April 9 last year.
Judge Levett said: ‘She walked in and then out again without attracting any attention.
'It was dark and she didn’t have a torch to light her way: she didn’t ask for help, she was wearing a striped T shirt but there was nothing about her demeanour which would have caused concern except for the time of day.
‘Prudently the lorry driver turned back to check on her welfare, but she couldn’t be found.
'There was no sound, no light, and no noise of any scream or rustling when the lorry driver searched for her.’
Two hours later at 5.15am care workers at the Brandon Park nursing home overlooking the lake, saw Ms Vengaliene tap on the window.
Judge Martyn Levett said Mr Vengalis (pictured), who lived with his wife in Brandon, could now be released from custody
Judge Levett added: ‘She wasn’t injured, she was smiling, she waved, but she looked cold and damp.
'She mouthed the words “Help me”, but due to Covid restrictions she was not allowed refuge in the home.’
The court heard how care workers from the home saw her again at 5.45am and spoke to her, but she declined help.
Staff decided to call the police who searched the area and couldn’t find her.
A member of the public was walking around the lake at 7am the same day when he heard
