Charges reduced for martial arts killer Mirzayev

© RIA Novosti . Andrei Stenin / Go to the mediabankRasul Mirzayev
Rasul Mirzayev - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The charges against Rasul Mirzayev, the world champion in mixed martial arts who killed a student in Moscow last summer, have been reduced, a lawyer for the student’s family told the RAPSI news agency.

The charges against Rasul Mirzayev, the world champion in mixed martial arts who killed a student in Moscow last summer, have been reduced, a lawyer for the student’s family told the RAPSI news agency.

Mirzayev, 25, from Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, is accused of killing Ivan Agafonov, 19, on August 13, 2011 after arguing over a young woman outside a nightclub in downtown Moscow.

“Today investigators charged Mirzayev with Article 109 of Russia’s Criminal Code - ‘infliction of death by negligence’ - which is milder than Article 111 - ‘intentional infliction of a grave injury leading to death,’” attorney Oxana Mikhalkina said.

The Investigative Committee confirmed that the charges had been reduced.

Mikhalkina also said the champion faces no more than two years in prison compared with up to 15 years under the previous charge.

Agafonov’s friends said that the argument started with an innocent prank - Agafonov was playing with a toy car, walked up to Mirzayev’s girlfriend, Alla, and offered her a ride as a joke. But Mirzayev decided Agafonov had insulted her.

The world champion hit Agafonov in the face, and the young man fell down and struck his head against a metal drain cover. He was taken to hospital and died without regaining consciousness a few days later.

Moscow’s Presnensky Court in mid-December extended pre-trial custody for Mirzayev until February 17.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала