30 July 2008, 15:50
Killers of Shurpaev, journalist from Dagestan, convicted for 21 years in labor colony
Today, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan has passed a ruling on the case of murder of Iliyas Shurpaev, "First Channel" journalist, resident of Dagestan. Masrurjon Yatimov and Nadzhmiddin Mukhiddinov are to spend 21 years in a high-security colony.
For reference, Iliyas Shurpaev, 33, "First Channel" correspondent, was found dead on March 21 in Moscow in a burnt flat. The investigation determined that the journalist was murdered. The trial started on July 18.
While announcing the court ruling, the judge stated that Masrurjon Yatimov and Nadzhmiddin Mukhiddinov had committed the crime for mercenary ends and upon a prior collusion, reports RIA Novosti.
According to "Interfax", the hearing was held in public in the Russian language. Both the defendants had initially confessed but later denied their evidence: one only recognized robbery and the other insisted on his complete innocence.
"I was drunk and do not remember everything, but I clearly remember that, when I came to, Mukhiddinov was strangling Shurpaev with a belt and then, thinking that the latter may still be alive, struck his neck with a knife ", claimed M.Yatimov during the interrogation.
When making a plea, Mukhiddinov claimed that he had struck Shurpayev with a knife but at the moment when the latter was already dead, strangled by Yatimov.
