Sunny Beach Murder Suspect Claims Innocence

Menashki is believed to have stabbed the 30-year-old victim 5 times. Photo by Bulphoto

The former police officer who has been blamed for the gruesome murder that shocked Bulgaria's Sunny Beach sea resort has claimed that he is innocent.

Local police authorities believe 29-year-old former policeman Mihail Menashki was driven by jealousy as he stabbed his victim, 30-year-old Maria Zlatanova, a manager of a bar at the resort and his former girlfriend.

However, Menashki has now claimed that he did not even know the victim.

"I was at a birthday party with my girlfriend, I didn't go out at all and I don't know Maria," the suspect has told reporters.

Meanwhile, a judge has revealed that Menashki's new girlfriend may have driven him to commit the murder.

The girlfriend, Margarita Miteva, has allegedly asked Menashki to "prove his love for her" by "beating up" his ex, the judge has told local media.

The former cop is currently kept in custody. A bloody t-shirt, the murder weapon (a knife) and his surviving victim's testimony points to him as a murderer.

The murder happened slightly after 1:30 pm Monday when the victim left the bar after the end of her shift.She was accompanied by her 18-year-old boyfriend at the time of the attack.

Maria was stabbed 5 times, her fatal wound being in the chest. The 18-year-old youngster was rushed to hospital with injuries.

Menashki was recently dishonorably discharged for selling fake road vignettes. He would face a life sentence if proven guilty of murder.

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