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Bryansk court to announce the verdict in fatal runover case

The young woman was depressed by the accident and even tried to commit a suicide

BRYANSK, March 28 (Itar-Tass) — The Fokin district court of Bryansk on Wednesday will hand down a verdict in the criminal case against local resident Irina Dobrzhanskaya, who ran over a woman with her daughter at a zebra crossing.

The road accident occurred in Moskovsky Prospekt /Avenue/ on October 7, 2011. Dobrzhanskaya, 20, driving a Volkswagen, ran over Anna Sivakova, 29, and her daughter Sonya, 3. The girl died on the spot, and her mother was hospitalized with serious injuries.

The video of the road accident was placed on the Internet and caused a public outcry. Unsanctioned rallies took place with the participants demanding punishment for the culprit. On several occasions, the participants in the rallies blocked traffic in Moskovsky Prospekt. The investigation into the road accident was handed over to the regional department of the Investigation Committee, given significance of the case.

Dobrzhanskaya is accused of the commission of crimes envisioned by Article 264, Part 3 of Russia's Criminal Code /violation of traffic rules and operation of vehicles which resulted the death of a person by negligence/.

If convicted, she might face up to five years in prison.

The young woman was depressed by the accident and even tried to commit a suicide.

The trial began on January 18, 2012. During seven hearings, the court examined the circumstances of the road accident, and questioned eye-witnesses and experts.

Although the trial was open, journalists and the public were not allowed into the hall.

Dobrzhanskaya partially admitted her guilt.

The presiding judge at the trial is Vasily Bocharov.

Dobrzhanskaya's lawyer Ruslan Mamedov earlier drew attention to the fact that there were no road surface markings at the place at the moment of the tragedy, and that police had not installed a warning sign there. Also, the young woman's car was in the far left lane and she might have failed to see the persons crossing the road.