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Killer of Magadan television journalist gets 13 years

Stanislav Solovyev was found guilty of the murder committed in Anatoly Bitkov's apartment

VLADIVOSTOK, January 25 (Itar-Tass) — The killer of editor-in-chief of the Kolyma Plus television channel Anatoly Bitkov has been sentenced to 13 years in a special regime penitentiary, the Magadan Town Court ruled on Wednesday.

Stanislav Solovyev was found guilty of the murder committed in Anatoly Bitkov's apartment overnight from June 21 to June 22, 2011. He repeatedly stabbed Bitkov in the neck, head, body and upper limbs, inflicting a total of 65 injuries. Bitkov died on the spot," according to a report placed on the website of the Magadan region prosecutor's office.

The court found Solovyev guilty of murder and theft of property. It also meted out an additional punishment for Solovyev - restriction of freedom for 1.5 year – which will apply after the convicted person has served out his sentence.

"Another defendant, Vladimir Timofeyev, has been sentenced to 140 hours of community for stealing the television journalist’s property. Together with Solovyev, they stole Bitkov's computer equipment, mobile phones, dishes, money and bank cards," a prosecutor said.

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