Defence asks to acquit defendants in Nemtsov's murder case

The advocates of the defendants in Boris Nemtsov's murder case has called on the judge to pronounce the verdict in accordance with his internal convictions and conscience, and to find the defendants innocent, or at least pass a softer sentence than requested by the prosecutor. The suffered party has stated Khamzat Bakhaev's innocence.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 29, at the Moscow District Military Court, the jury found all the defendants guilty and deserving no indulgence. Today, the prosecutor requested life imprisonment for the defendant Zaur Dadaev; 23 and 21 years in prison for Anzor and Shadid Gubashev; 19 years in prison for Tamerlan Eskerkhanov; and 17 years for Khamzat Bakhaev.

However, the court can, despite the jury's verdict, pass an acquittal, said Zaurbek Sadakhanov, a Bakhaev's advocate.

Mark Kaverzin, an advocate of Zaur Dadaev, asked the court to dissolve, according to the law and on its own initiative, the jury and convoke a new one for a new trial of the case.

In their last plea, the defendants asked their relatives to forgive them, noting that they rely on the mercy of the Almighty.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.