An Almaty court is nearing the end of a trial over the brutal murder of a 34-year-old woman, in which her 39-year-old former police officer partner stands accused. The state prosecutor has requested an 18-year prison sentence for the defendant, infohub.kz reports.
The tragedy shocked the city a year and a half ago. According to investigators, an argument between the couple escalated into a knife attack. The victim's relatives claim the man inflicted 39 stab wounds — all in front of the children.
Little is known about the family. The woman worked as a kindergarten director in the village of Uzynagash. Her husband served in the Almaty Region Police Department but was dismissed on negative grounds. The couple was raising three children.
At the latest hearing, the parties presented their closing arguments. State prosecutor Beisenbek Zhunis stated the prosecution's position: "I ask the court to find him guilty of a criminal offense and impose a sentence of 18 years' imprisonment, to be served in a medium-security correctional facility."
The defense insists on a different charge: in its view, the crime was committed in a state of passion, and the case should be reclassified. However, the victim's relatives are convinced that the man was aware of his actions. Lawyer Meirman Shekeyev said: "We do not see that he was in a state of passion. He was aware of what he was doing. Attention should be paid to the defendant's character: he served as a police officer for 15 years and underwent checks repeatedly. He faced such situations every day — he responded to calls. He saw such situations daily. Domestic conflicts had occurred before."
The victim's mother is asking for the harshest possible punishment for her son-in-law. The injured party has demanded 100 million tenge in compensation for moral damages from the defendant.