site.btaVarna Appellate Court Upholds Three Life Sentences in "Killers" Trial

Varna Appellate Court Upholds Three Life Sentences in "Killers" Trial

Varna, on the Black Sea, May 4 (BTA) - The Appellate Court in Varna on Wednesday upheld the life sentences of Peter Stoyanov, Georgi Vulev and Vassil Kostov, who have been charged with two murders in what is popularly known as the "Killers" trial.

These and two other defendants in the same case, Raicho Stoinev and Yanko Popov, have been accused of a number of crimes, including the murder of a businessman and a lawyer and arson attacks. According to the prosecution, the defendants acted as an organized crime group led by Stoyanov, nicknamed the Sumo Wrestler.

This is the second judgment of the Varna Appellate Court in the "Killers" trial after the Supreme Cassation Court returned the case last year due to procedural irregularities.

Popov's sentence was commuted from 17 to 10 years' imprisonment, with an initial period to be served under maximum security conditions. Stoinev was acquitted of being an accessory to the murders.

This latest judgment of the Varna Appellate Court is appealable within 15 days.

Prosecutor Assya Petrova told the media that in the coming days the prosecution will decide whether to appeal Stoinev's acquittal and the commutation of Popov's sentence. She said she is satisfied with the outcome of the trial because a second panel of judges upheld the sentences of life imprisonment without commutation.

Defence lawyer Karen Beilerian said the life sentences will be appealed at the Supreme Cassation Court (SCC). He believes the evidence provided by the defence can lead the SCC to acquit the defendants.