Bulgarian Girl MurderTrial Kicks off in US

Crime | June 6, 2011, Monday // 13:10|  views

oshua Kevin Drucker (left) and Melissa Suzanne McCrayer have been arrested for the slaying of Bulgarian Lora Nikolova and her US boyfriend David Robertson. Photo by ajc.com

The Court in Cobb County, Georgia, US, begins Monday the trial against Joshua Kevin Drucker, accused of the murder of Bulgarian, Lora Nikolova.

The news was reported by the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington DC, cited by Eurochicago.com, the largest media in Bulgarian in America.

Bulgarian Lora Nikolova, 25, and her American boyfriend, David Andrew Robertson, 40, were found dead in Robertson's home in a suburb of Atlanta in April 2004.

Joshua Kevin Drucker, 25, of McDonough was charged with felony murder and credit card fraud. Melissa Suzanne McCrayer, 20, of Roswell was charged with murder, robbery and accessory to a crime.

Nikolova, a Sofia resident, arrived in Atlanta in July 2003, after joining a students' summer work program. She had a job as a swimming pool lifeguard and after meeting Robertson decided to settle in the US.

On the evening of April 5, 2004, Drucker and McCrayer, both said to have been drug addicts, went to Robertson home. They have known each other for years, but in the last months Druker's drug problems increased; he asked non-stop for money, and was not welcome in the house, the Bulgarian 24 Chassa (24 Hours) daily writes.

According to McCrayer's testimony, Robertson invited them in, while Lora had been in her bedroom. The young woman had no idea her boyfriend was armed and had intentions to kill. The two, however, knew Robertson had withdrawn from his bank account USD 30 000 for a trip to Bulgaria and possibly a wedding. Drucker shot him in the back while he was walking to the kitchen. Upon hearing the shot, Lora came running from the bedroom and was shot in the neck. The two perpetrators left in one of Robertson's cars, after searching the house and taking all credit cards, leaving her on the floor, still alive.

They booked a motel room, but later decided to return to look for more valuables. They found Lora alive and Drucker shot her in the head. They came back a total of three times, taking everything, including Lora's diamond ring and her cheap cell phone.

Lora's brother, who also lived in the US, was called to identify the body.

After 7 years of Lora's family waiting, Druker is finally to face the Court. Georgia still has the dead penalty, but according to reports, the girl's family wants life without parole for Druker.

Even before the murder, the young man had a long rap sheet, including robberies and drug possession, but it is said that the influence of his father – a pastor, helped him get away only with probation.

"The father of the killer is prominent in Atlanta. They are wealthy and hired a number of different lawyers," Lora's father, Nikola Nikolov, is quoted saying.

The family has filed an application with the Human Rights Committee at the Bulgarian Parliament, asking for assistance, similar to the one in the murder case of Simeon Popov, a Bulgarian student gunned down in 2002 in NY State while delivering pizza.

In Popov's case, an employee of the Bulgarian Embassy had accompanied the young man's family, helping them with accommodations, interpreting and transport during the trial.

Nikolovi say Bulgarian authorities in the country and in the US are yet to respond to their plea, 24 Hours writes.

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Tags: Joshua Kevin, Drucker, Melissa Suzanne, McCrayer, Lora, Nikolova, David, Robertson, Murder, credit card fraud, Cobb County, court, trial

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