12:06, 22 July 2008

Yatimov, accused of Shurpaev's murder, confesses of robbery not murder

Today at a court session, Masrurdzhon Yatimov, accused of murdering Russian journalist Ilyas Shurpaev, a native of Dagestan, has admitted his guilt of robbery and deliberate destruction of property, but not of murder.

We remind you that Ilyas Shurpaev, 33, a correspondent of television "Channel One" was found dead on March 21, 2008, in Moscow in his burned down apartment. During the investigation, it has found out that the journalist was murdered. The trial on the case that started on July 18 continued today in Dushanbe.

Member of the Supreme Court Shukhrat Azimov who is presiding the trial has started the session with announcement of the indictment, and then began interrogating Yatimov who declared that he did not plead guilty of murder.

According to the RIA "Novosti", during the interrogation the defendant has informed the judge that he only tried to separate Nadzmiddin Mukhiddinov and Ilyas Shurpaev who were fighting; he was in the state of alcoholic intoxication and did not remember much.