Vjatšeslav Bajuk, who killed meteorologist Krista Odakivi with a baseball bat, remains in prison by Tallinn court decision

Harju District Court rejected Vjatšeslav Bajuk's application for early release from prison. Bajuk was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he beat meteorologist Krista Odakivi to death with a baseball bat in Schnelli Park in Tallinn in 2009. The court and prosecutor found that the convicted person still poses a threat to society.

Harju District Court refused to grant early release to Vjatšeslav Bajuk last week, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of meteorologist Krista Odakivi in Tallinn. The court found that the convicted person must experience the impact of the sentence and bear full responsibility for his actions.

Horrific crime in Schnelli Park

On the morning of 23 November 2009, Bajuk attacked two women in Schnelli Park in Tallinn with a baseball bat, causing serious bodily injuries to both. One of the victims, 34-year-old meteorologist Krista Odakivi, died a few days later as a result of injuries sustained at the hospital. In addition, on 1 January 2010, Bajuk raped a woman he did not know on the Tallinn-Klooga road in a car, who lost consciousness during the act due to violence and intimidation. The court sentenced Bajuk to 20 years in prison for all these crimes.

Bajuk's application for early release

Bajuk requested from the court conditional early release with electronic monitoring. He stated that he has been in an open prison since October 2023, works in vehicle servicing, and has completed several social programmes while in prison. Bajuk admitted to the crimes and expressed remorse, explaining that at the time of the acts he was unable to control his anger and alcohol clouded his understanding of what was permitted and forbidden. He noted that he compensates victims for damages in prison at 400 euros per month and hopes to pay 500 euros per month in freedom.

Prosecutor: threat to society has not disappeared

The prosecution opposed Bajuk's early release. The prosecutor emphasized that the intensity and duration of violence used against the victims demonstrate the person's heightened dangerousness and carelessness towards human life and the rule of law. "The release of this person at the present time, years before the end of the sentence, is premature and would likely also offend the sense of justice of the victims and society. The convicted person must experience the impact of the sentence and bear responsibility for his actions," said the prosecutor.

The prosecutor added that although Bajuk has been away from alcohol for a long time due to imprisonment, this does not exclude the possibility of continued alcohol use upon release, especially considering his previous crimes and lifestyle.

Court's reasoning

Harju District Court agreed with the prosecutor's position. The court noted that Bajuk's previous lifestyle has been characterized by alcohol consumption, and therefore relapse cannot be ruled out. The risk of committing a new crime in the event of possible renewed use of addictive substances remains, in the court's assessment. The court found that the circumstances against early release provide grounds to fear that the sentence served has not been sufficient and the aims of punishment have not yet been achieved in Bajuk's case.