Co-accused Vitas Plytnykas (41) denied the murder and other related charges and will stand trial in Edinburgh in February.

Skirda admitted that on March 29 at Flat 3, Earlsdon House, South Esk Street, Brechin, he assaulted Jolanta Bledaite by holding her against her will, binding her legs, hands and arms, placing tape over her mouth and nose, repeatedly demanding that she tell him the PIN number for bankcards he had stolen, repeatedly striking her on the head and body, repeatedly striking her on the body with a knife or knives, threatening to kill her, holding her down by the legs, placing his arms around her nose and mouth, placing a pillow over her head, restricting her breathing and he murdered her having previously evinced malice and ill-will towards her.

He further admitted at Jolanta Bledaite’s home severing her hands and head from her body and on March 29 disposing of her hands and head in the sea at Arbroath harbour and the following day disposing a suitcase containing her body in the sea at Arbroath harbour.

He further admitted that on various occasions between March 29 and April 3 at banks in Brechin, Montrose, Forfar and Arbroath he did by means of the bankcards and PIN numbers feloniously obtained £1400 from autotellers.

Counsel for Vitas Plytnykas, Paul McBride QC, said his client denied all charges against him and is blaming Aleksandras Skirda for the alleged crimes.

In addition to the charges admitted by Skirda, he also denies stealing two bankcards and between March 29 and March 31 that he removed all Jolanta Bledaite’s possessions from the bedroom at her home. He denies that on March 29, in a wooded area beside the Sports Centre, Bridge Street, Brechin, he set fire to Jolanta Bledaite’s personal papers and belongings and threw the knives used to attack her into the river.

He denies that between March 29 and March 30 he disposed of her personal possessions in rubbish bins at supermarkets in Forfar and Arbroath in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice. He further denies that on various occasions between March 29 and April 3 at banks in Brechin, Arbroath, Dundee and Montrose he tried to use the bankcards to obtain money.

The preliminary hearing at the High Court today was told by Advocate Depute Alex Prentice QC that the Crown accepted the pleas from Aleksandras Skirda and intended to proceed to trial against Vitas Plytnykas.

Mr Prentice said substantial portions of evidence had been agreed between the Crown and defence. This will have the effect of sparing the children who made the horrific discovery of Jolanta Bledaite’s head on the beach at Arbroath from having to come to court and give evidence.

Mr Prentice said the trial would necessarily be complex because in addition to Lithuanian interpreters being required, several witnesses would also require a Polish interpreter, resulting in evidence being translated from Polish to English and English to Lithuanian.

He estimated that the trial could last up to 15 days.

The discovery of Jolanta Bledaite’s head set in motion a major police inquiry and touched the hearts of Angus people.

Local people and businesses gave generously to a fund to support her family and repatriate her remains. She was returned to her hometown of Alytus some two months after she died.

Local people also held a memorial service for the popular Jolanta, who was known to help fellow migrant workers as an interpreter.

Judge Lord Uist fixed the trial on Vitas Plytnykas for the High Court in Edinburgh on February 2.

He told Skirda, “As you have pleaded guilty to the crime of murder you must, in due course, by law, be sentenced to detention and imprisonment for life. Before you are sentenced a social inquiry report must be obtained about your background and the circumstances so the judge sentencing you can fix the punishment period, which is the minimum period you will spend in custody.”

He deferred sentence in Skirda’s case to the first day of the trial and said this would allow the judge conducting the trial to determine when sentence would eventually be passed on him.