The consideration of the murder of Tigran Naghdalian, the Chairman of the Council of RA Public TV and Radio Company, committed on December 28, 2002 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, October 24-30, 2003) apparently draw to a close. At the sessions of October 30, 31 and November 3 the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan heard out the testimony of the witness on the case, and the debate of the parties started.
On November 5 the accusatory speech was presented. The prosecutors demanded that Armen Sargsian be sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment as an order of a premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances for lucrative purposes and because of the professional and public duty of the deceased. The same term is to be applied to John Harutiunian – the direct executor of the crime. For another accomplice, Felix Arustamian, the prosecution demanded a 12-year term, and for Gegham Shakhbazian, charged with the organization of the crime – 11 years’ imprisonment. The prosecutors thought that the punishment can be mildened (up to 7 years’ imprisonment) for Hovhannes Harutiunian and Grigor Petrosian – for the assistance provided to the investigation. Samvel Harutiunian, charged with the concealment of the crime and illegal arm storage, is proposed to be sentenced for 2 years’ imprisonment, and Samvel Abrahamian with the same charges to 1 years’ imprisonment. Leva Harutiunian and Khachik Ahaginian, charged with concealment of the crime, in the opinion of prosecution, must be sentenced to a year’s imprisonment. The same punishment is stipulated for Nshan Muradian (concealment of the crime) and Armen Manasian (illegal storage of arms), the preventive punishment for whom was the obligation of remaining in the place of permanent residence. If the petition of the prosecution is accepted for those defendants, for whom 1 year’s imprisonment is proposed, they will be released from the courtroom due to the sentence expiration (a day of pre-court arrest is set equal to 1.5 day of imprisonment). Finally, the last of the 13 defendants, Rafik Melkonian (concealment of crime), also committed to staying in the place of permanent residence, is proposed for a conditional one year sentence with two years’ deferral.
