A Class A drug dealer from Corby has been found guilty of trying to murder teenager Lennon Tierney after shooting him in Hazel Wood last year. Matas Sukaitis, 21, was convicted following a four-week trial at Northampton Crown Court. The jury heard that on April 11 last year, Sukaitis went to Hazel Wood armed with a gun and shot Mr Tierney, who was then 17, in the back.
As Mr Tierney lay face down on the ground, Sukaitis then tried twice to shoot him at point-blank range in the head. The court heard the weapon jammed, preventing further shots from being fired.
Sukaitis then stabbed Mr Tierney in the leg and shin before kicking him in the head. He fled towards Jubilee Avenue and remained on the run for three days before handing himself in.
During the trial, Sukaitis, of Chaucer Close, Corby, admitted being involved in class-A drug dealing. The court heard he had run the “Frankie line”, selling crack cocaine and heroin worth up to £230,000 between January and May last year.
The jury was sent out on Tuesday, June 30, before receiving further legal directions from Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane at 2pm on Thursday, July 2. The judge told jurors that a majority verdict would now be accepted.
After more than ten hours of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts at 2.45pm on charges of attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause harm, and possession of a knife in a public place.
Sukaitis is due to be sentenced on Friday, September 18. Judge Crane ordered a pre-sentence report but warned him that he faces an “extremely lengthy custodial sentence”.
As he was taken down from the dock, Sukaitis gave his mother a thumbs-up.
The judge thanked the jury for their patience and service during what she described as a “stop-start” trial.
Three other defendants accused of assisting Sukaitis are expected to face retrials at a later date after their original trials were abandoned following several periods of illness.
