Bulgaria Classmate Killer Receives Life Sentence

The life sentence of 20-year-old Nikolay Arabadzhiev (middle) comes as a surprise because the Prosecutor in the murder trial asked for 20 years behind bars. Photo by BGNES

The Sofia City Court sentenced Wednesday 20-year-old Nikolay Arabadzhiev to life in prison for the murder of classmate Atanas Atanasov.

In addition, Arabadzhiev must pay a BGN 1 M compensation to the family of the victim of the brutal murder.

The verdict came as a surprise because on Tuesday the Prosecutor asked for 20 years behind bars.

Arabadzhiev's defense lawyer, prominent Bulgarian attorney, Marin Markovski, accused the magistrates of prejudice and wrong-doing. Markovski pleaded for a 10-year sentence with the argument Arabadzhiev was the subject of vicious sexual abuse on the part of Atanasov.

Markovski had stated previously, on numerous occasions, that the court is prejudiced and they will rule for life behind bars. He says he will appeal the verdict.

The crime was committed in the apartment of the killer's grandmother, located in Sofia's Zapaden Park district in May 2008. The police found the victim's dismembered body in a trash container while the arms and the head were discovered buried in the Vitosha mountain near Sofia. The two are said to have been friends but had a long-running history of arguments and anger. Arabadzhiev told the investigators he got enraged by the victim constantly making fun of him.

It was found in the course of the investigation that Arabadzhiev had the skills of a surgeon, wanted to become one and owned a full range of surgical instruments.

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