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Prosecutor denies putting pressure on witnesses in ex colonel murder case

Earlier in the day, the Moscow City Court sentenced Yusup Temerkhanov to 15 years in a maximum security penitentiary, on the strength of the jury verdict

MOSCOW, May 7 (Itar-Tass) - The prosecutor for the state at the trial of the case over the murder of former Colonel Yuri Budanov said she was pleased with the verdict. "The trial procedure conformed to all the norms of the Criminal Procedure Code. There has been no pressure on witnesses or other participants in the trial," prosecutor Maria Semenenko said on Tuesday.

Answering reporters' questions, she stated that "the prosecutor respects the jurors' opinion." The verdict is legal and will not be appealed against, she said.

Earlier in the day, the Moscow City Court sentenced Yusup Temerkhanov to 15 years in a maximum security penitentiary, on the strength of the jury verdict. The court also ordered to have Temerkhanov's freedom restricted after release from jail. He has to live in his place of residence for two years and remain in his house from 22:00 p.m. to 06:00 a.m.

Temerkhanov's lawyer Murad Musayev said he would appeal. "We regard the verdict as flawed and intend to challenge it at a higher court," he told Itar-Tass.

Nine out of 12 jurors found Temerkhanov guilty of the murder. They also said he did not deserve clemency.

Budanov was shot and killed in the summer of 2011 in Moscow.

The investigator said Temerkhanov had purchased a Mitsubishi Lancer with fake license plates and an Izh-79 pistol converted for firing live rounds. Together with his two accomplices, whose identities have not been ascertained, he was tailing Budanov before deciding to kill him. After the murder, Temerkhanov burnt the car.

According to the prosecutor, Temerkhanov killed the former Colonel because he hated the servicemen who had fought in Chechnya. For the sake of secrecy in 2004, he obtained a passport in Argun, Chechnya, in the name of Magomed Suleimanov, and selected Budanov as his mark in 2011.

The trial was suspended once to check the reports on bribing the witness for the defense. The Investigative Committee /SK/ then opened a criminal case against lawyer Darya Trenina who represented Temerkhanov's interests.

Also, the SK began a check into the statement by witness Alexander Yevtukhov, who said he regarded Musayev's remarks as threats against him.

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