21:05, 21 May 2007

Defence of the convict of Imam's murder appeals against the sentence in Stavropol Territory

The defence of Roman Koyushev, a resident of the Predgorny District of Stavropol Territory, convicted for murdering Imam of Kislovodsk mosque, has declared their intention to appeal against the verdict.

Nikolai Babukoev, Koyushev's advocate, telephoned to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent and informed that the defence had found the verdict to be illegal. "The files of the case have not a single proof of R. Koyushev's guilt of the incriminated crimes. The investigation was built on assumptions and conjectures. We think that the crimes had been committed by K. Botashov who was killed three months later. Since defendant R. Koyushev had spent a long time at SIZO (pre-trial custody), the acquittal verdict would have been a great surprise to all of us," N. Babukoev said.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported earlier that on May 18 in Pyatigorsk the Stavropol Territorial Court sentenced Roman Koyushev, 24, to 20 years of imprisonment in a strict colony for murdering the Imam of Kislovodsk mosque.

Author: Elena Kostenko, CK correspondent