TOMSK, Russia -- A policeman in central Russia was sentenced to 12 years in jail today for beating a journalist to death, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.
Tomsk's Lenin district court also ruled that Aleksei Mitaev cannot work as a police officer for three years after he serves his jail term. The widow and father of the victim, Konstantin Popov, will each receive compensation equal to $51,000.
Popov died of a brain hemorrhage on January 20, 2010, after he was severely beaten at a local police station. The investigation and trial lasted for more than a year.
Mitaev stated that he was guilty during the investigation, but pleaded not guilty in the courtroom. Popov's relatives doubt that Mitaev was the only person involved in the beating death.
They told RFE/RL that they have sent all documents related to the case to Moscow and have demanded an independent forensic test.
Read in Russian here
Tomsk's Lenin district court also ruled that Aleksei Mitaev cannot work as a police officer for three years after he serves his jail term. The widow and father of the victim, Konstantin Popov, will each receive compensation equal to $51,000.
Popov died of a brain hemorrhage on January 20, 2010, after he was severely beaten at a local police station. The investigation and trial lasted for more than a year.
Mitaev stated that he was guilty during the investigation, but pleaded not guilty in the courtroom. Popov's relatives doubt that Mitaev was the only person involved in the beating death.
They told RFE/RL that they have sent all documents related to the case to Moscow and have demanded an independent forensic test.
Read in Russian here