Dagestan: defendant at trial of "honour killing" partially admits his guilt

At the session of the Kizilyurt District Court, the defendant Kasum Magomedov, accused of murdering his niece, has partially admitted his guilt, saying that he had committed the crime in the heat of passion. Under petition of the defence, the court has appointed his psychological and psychiatric examination.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the 22-year-old Maryam Magomedova was killed in the village of Nechaevka, Kizilyurt District of Dagestan, in August 2010. Her mother blamed the girl's uncle – Kasum Magomedov – of committing the crime. His trial began in November 2012; and on April 2, 2013, he was acquitted. The appellate review began on September 30, 2013.

On May 22, after a meeting with his advocate, Kasum Magomedov, while being questioned in court, partially admitted his guilt, as Salimat Kadyrova, the advocate of the victim (the girl's mother) told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The uncle said that he heard rumours about indecent behaviour of his niece during her marriage and after divorce," said Salimat Kadyrova.

The lawyer Akif Beibutov, who is defending Kasum Magomedov, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that his argument is that "it was a negligent murder committed in the heat of passion." "If the examination confirms the presence of passion, then, under the Criminal Code, the defendant faces up to three years in prison," said the lawyer.