The family of a late rock star faces jail time for beating to death an intruder who pelted them with bullets in their own home, the Investigative Committee said Thursday.
The Girnyk family let the intruder into their apartment on Proyezd Cherepanovykh in northern Moscow on Wednesday, mistaking him for a guest they were expecting, Komsomolskaya Pravda .
But the man stabbed Alla Girnyk, 49, and shot her and her two sons, Nikita and Andrei — 27 and 28, respectively — from an air gun reconfigured to shoot real bullets, the daily said.
The three fought back, killing him with several blows to the head, the report said.
The Girnyk brothers, sons of rock musician Andrei "ZZ Top" Girnyk, remain hospitalized in serious condition, as does their mother, whose injuries were not life-threatening.
Investigators opened a case against them on charges of excessive self-defense that resulted in homicide, punishable by up to two years in prison, RIA-Novosti .
It remained unclear what motivated the intruder, identified by media as Ingushetia resident Ramazan Balkoyev, 21. Gazeta.ru he was a robber.
Girnyk Sr., who died of a heart attack in 2008 at 46, played bass for a number of '80s Soviet hard rock bands, including local legends "Shakh" and "Chyorny Kofe." He was also a biker.
His alias came from his magnificent beard, similar to those sported by members of Texan boogie rock legends of the same name.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
