The court refused the defendants on the case of Markelov's murder deferment of making their last plea

Nikita Tikhonov was brought into the courtroom for participation in the trial on the criminal case of murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova. Gauze bandages were applied on Tikhonov's left hand, a little above his wrist, and on his neck, too. Evgenia Khasis had the same kind of bandage on her left wrist, too. 

It should be reminded that the debate of the parties on the criminal case of murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova was expected to be over on April, 26, in Moscow City Court but at the beginning of the session chief justice reported Nikita Tikhonov's official statement of his being unable to participate in the trial on health grounds, therefore hearing the case was delayed till April, 27. There also appeared the news that Tikhonov slashed his wrists in the investigative isolation ward "Matrosskaya Tishina" and was hospitalized.  

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that today judge Alexander Zamashniuk in the presence of the jury said that according to medical expert opinion, the defendants were able to participate in the process. Khasis looks unhealthy and slight blue shades can be seen under her eyes, Thkhonov also looks asthenic. 

The debate of the parties on the criminal case of murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova in Moscow City Court came to an end. After that Nikita Tikhonov asked the court to defer entering his and Evgenia Khasis' last plea. 

"We feel it difficult to concentrate now because we have had injections of anxiolytic", Tikhonov said in a very low voice.

The judge rejected his solicitation explaining that the court had twice requested expert opinions on the state of the defendants' health and got a reply that there were no medical contraindications to their participation in the session.