Bulgarian Prosecution Demands Confirmation for 'Borilski'' Sentences

Stoyan Stoichkov (r) and Georgi Zhelyazkov (l) were convicted of killing Bulgarian Sorbonne student Martin Borilski in Paris in 2000. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office demands confirmation by the Supreme Court of Cassation (VKS) of the sentences of the two young men who murdered Bulgarian Sorbonne student Martin Borilski in Paris in 2000.

The defense of the two convicts Georgi Zhelyazkov and Stoyan Stoichkov insists on a review of the case, pleading the innocence of Zhelyazkov and Stoichkov. The lawyer Ina Lulcheva said she has not seen such pressure on a case for 25 years.

The case will be reviewed for the second time by the highest court, VKS, and it will make a decision within one month. Zhelyazkov and Stoichkov were not present in the court during Monday's hearing.

According to Zhelyazkov's defense, his sentence is not fair and he needs to be acquitted. “Unfortunately, the victim will not be back, even if the convicts are sentenced to death,” Lulcheva said adding that the judges were prejudiced.

Stoichkov also demands to be acquitted. He wrote in his complaint that if the magistrates prove his participation in the murder, he will claim for reduction of his sentence.

In the summer of 2000, French firefighters discovered the brutally murdered Martin Borilski in his apartment in Paris. His body was tied down with a sweater, and his skull was broken with a dumbbell. There were 93 stab wounds on his corpse.

After hiding from the authorities for 11 days, the convicted murderers turned themselves in to court security officers.

Zheliazkov, who is the son of a prominent Varna lawyer, and Stoichkov, were acquitted by the first two Bulgarian trials - in the Shumen District Court and the Veliko Turnovo Appellate Court. However, amidst the pressure of protest rallies and stark remarks on the part of French Ambassador to Bulgaria, Etienne de Poncins, at the beginning of March 2009, Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassations returned the "Borilski" murder case to the Appellate Court in the city of Veliko Tarnovo for retrial.

On February 4, 2010, Zhelyazkov and Stoichkov were sentenced by the Veliko Tarnovo Appellate Court to 19 and 17 years in prison, respectively, for the savage murder. They were also sentenced to pay BGN 120 000 to the relatives who demand life sentences for the murderers.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!