Varna Court Leaves Mutilation Style Murder Suspect behind Bars

Over 3 000 college students and relatives of the 21-year-old murder victim, staged a protest rally in the Bulgarian Black Sea capital, demanding the harshest possible punishment for the alleged killer, Georgi Tsvetanov.

The Varna Appellate Court decided Tuesday to leave murder suspect Georgi Tsvetanov behind bars.

Tsvetanov is the only suspect in the vicious murder of 21-year-old female college student from Varna's Economic University. Radostina Evtimova was found dead in her apartment on March 6 with over 50 stab wounds to her body.

Tsvetanov, who is the son of a prominent local politician, leader of the right wing Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), denies any involvement in the case. He did not appear for the trial Tuesday and was represented by his defense team.

In the mean time, over 3 000 college students and relatives of the murder victim, staged a protest rally in the Bulgarian Black Sea capital, demanding the harshest possible punishment for the alleged killer. He faces between 15 years and life behind bars for the crime.

Tsvetanov's lawyers requested the trial to be postponed for an undisclosed date over assumptions the protest could influence the magistrates' opinion. The Court rejected the request as unfounded.

The evidence collected by the criminal investigation unit made the young man the only suspect in the vicious, mutilation style, murder. A picture of a naked woman allegedly the victim was found on Tsvetanov's cell phone, while a bloody knife, blood stained clothes and underwear, allegedly belonging to the murdered girl, have been located at his home. The Police have also confiscated from the home the victim's gold jewelry and her USB. All were hidden in the laundry room along with the suspect's own blood stained, clothes.

The defense team argued Tuesday against some of the evidence in the case. They stated that there was no proof the confiscated USB belonged to the victim, while the cell phone picture did not reveal a face and there was no evidence it portrayed a dead body.

The lawyers further pointed out that the case did not include documents describing how Tsvetanov was detained as well as the autopsy results to prove the death was caused by stabbing. The magistrates defined the autopsy argument as cynical, adding that it was unfounded to ask about autopsy results two days after the murder, when the permanent detention was initially imposed on the suspect.

The Prosecutor stated that Tsvetanov could undeniably be placed at the crime scene and there was no evidence another individual has been there. Fingerprints and footprints from Tsvetanov's trainers were presented as proof of his presence in Radostina's apartment.

The Appellate Court's decision is final and cannot be appealed further. It was applauded by those in the courtroom and by protesting students outside the building.

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