September 28, 2005 - 08:15 AMT
ARMENIAN OFFICER MURDERER TRIAL PUT OFF TILL DECEMBER 15
The recurrent court sitting on the case of Azeri officer Ramil Safarov accused of the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian was held in Budapest yesterday. According to Azeti lawyer Adil Ismaylov, the court decreed to postpone the sitting till December 15. The postponement was caused by the disagreement of the experts on Ramil Safarov's psychological state. The opinion of three Hungarian experts, who were carrying out the examination, differed and the court set another examination. To remind, the previous court sitting was held on May 10, 2005. As reported by AzerTage news agency, yesterday's sitting was opened by presiding Judge Anrdas Vaskuti. He read the request of the Armenian attorney to involve an Armenian expert in the examination process. The request was declined over the possible retardation of the process. The letter sent by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Hungary and reporting that witness Anar Aliyev will not give testimony over illness was also read. A witness from Lithuania did not appear either, however his testimony was read. The court heard the evidence by witness from the Armenian part Hayk Manucharian. Then it proceeded to the outcomes of the examination. To remind, the first examination was made immediately after the tragic incident. The second one was carried out later with the participation of Azeri observers. Since the opinion of the two expert groups differed fundamentally the Judge set another examination and declared that the next court sitting is fixed for December 15, 2005. Members of the Azerbaijani Embassy, representatives of the Azeri Diaspora, sportsmen and students were present in court. To remind, the trial of Ramil Safarov started last November. He is accused of murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian (February 19, 2004) during NATO English courses in Budapest. The previous court sitting took place on February 8, 2005. Ramil Safarov is accused according to the Article 166.2 of the Hungarian Criminal Code (murder with aggravations) calling for deprivation of liberty with a term of 10-15 years or life imprisonment.