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Court to pass verdict on ex-deputy head of Butyrka prison

Dmitry Kratov accused of negligence, which allegedly led to the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky

MOSCOW, December 28 (Itar-Tass) — The Tverskoi District Court of Moscow on Friday will announce a sentence to former deputy head of the Butyrka prison Dmitry Kratov, accused of negligence, which allegedly led to the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

During the hearing of the sides’ arguments the prosecutor requested to acquit Kratov for the absence of crime elements in his actions. Representatives of Magnitsky’s relatives called for the return of the case to the investigation for a more detailed study of its circumstances. Kratov himself pleaded not guilty and asked for acquittal.

“I sincerely regret the death of Sergei Magnitsky, but because of the circumstances of what happened I could not influence his fate. I plead not guilty and request acquittal,” Kratov said in a brief final statement.

Thus, the court is expected to acquit the defendant in the criminal case.

Sergei Magnitsky, 37, died in an intensive care unit of the hospital of the Matrosskaya Tishina (Sailor's Rest) prison on November 16, 2009 - after 11 months of detention, and seven days after the final charge was brought against him. Before the transfer to the hospital, he was held in the Butyrka prison. According to investigators, Magnitsky was not provided with the timely medical treatment and the adequate therapy when his health condition sharply worsened. The comprehensive forensic examination found the death of the auditor was caused by a combination of several ailments, as well as deficiencies in the provision of medical care and delayed diagnosis.

The indictment states that Kratov in discharge of his official functions failed to organise diagnostic and preventive measures for Magnitsky and did not control such measures. The Prosecutor’s Office believes that the defendant failed to control the work of the medical assistant who examined Magnitsky, as well as did not organise his immediate medical examination and failed to provide to him a qualified expert in the field of surgery.

Former deputy head of the Butyrka prison Dmitry Kratov is charged under Article 293, part 2 of the RF Criminal Code – “negligence resulting in the death of a person though negligence.” The case against him was separated from the main criminal investigation into the death of the auditor, the investigation of which continues.

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