March 14, 2006 - 15:16 AMT
Safarov Compos Mentis and Responsible
The fourth and last forensic and medical expertise regarding Ramil Safarov confirmed the prisoner at the bar is compos mentis and responsible for his actions, lawyer Nazeli Vardanyan, who represents the interests of the family of murdered Gurgen Margaryan, stated at a news conference in Yerevan. In her words, the first and fourth expertise were almost identical. «In the course of the latest session the judge confirmed the conclusions of the fourth expertise. The Azeri party insisted on presence of a third expert, however as the third expertise was recognized void, the expert was not invited,» Vardanyan remarked. In her words, there no deviations from the norm are found in Safarov. «The Azeri party often mentioned the hard childhood of the prisoner, citing the example of the brother, who allegedly became invalid during the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. However, as it turned out, Safarov's brother was ill from childhood and this has nothing to do with the conflict,» Gurgen Margaryan's lawyer underscored.

Nazeli Vardanyan also remarked that the court gave a month to the parties to prepare their final speeches. The last hearing will be held April 4, 2006, the verdict will be announced April 13. «In compliance with Hungarian legislation Ramil Safarov may face imprisonment from 10-12 years up to life sentence. The murder of the Armenian officer is qualified as premeditated, especially heinous one with aggravation,» she said. Extradition of the criminal to Azerbaijan is hardly possible in this case, Nazeli Vardanyan remarked.