An Omsk court has sentenced two young men to lengthy prison terms for brutally killing a 33-year-old acquaintance who had propositioned them for sex, investigators said Thursday.
A 19-year-old bus conductor and his 18-year-old friend, a student, were sentenced to 15 and 13 years in prison, respectively, the regional branch of the Investigative Committee said.
The two young men and the unidentified acquaintance were drinking alcohol together in a private house in Omsk on the evening of April 22 when a quarrel broke out after the older man propositioned his drinking partners for sex, it said.
"The defendants struck many blows to the head and body of the man with an ax and hammer," it said in a statement.
The 33-year-old died at the scene as a result of his injuries, and the two young men buried his body in a garden before fleeing the scene of the crime.
The suspects were subsequently arrested and reportedly behaved suspiciously under questioning. The body of the murder victim was later found and dug up.
Larisa Boldinova, spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee, told Interfax that the two defendants were already a couple and had attacked the victim out of jealousy, perceiving him as a threat to their relationship.
Related articles:
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.
