29/11/2013 20:32
Judge in Lyuks Stepanian case recuses himself
The preliminary investigation into the case of David Khachatrian who is charged with killing a fellow soldier, Private Lyuks Stepanian, on May 15, 2013, has finished and the case was sent to the Tavush regional court of general jurisdiction, PastInfo news agency reported.
David Khachatrian’s lawyer, Yerem Sargsyan, told PastInfo he didn’t know that the criminal case went to court.
Besides, PastInfo learned that the judge recused himself on November 28, 2013.
According to the lawyer, the judge recused himself on his own initiative because no court sitting was held and the parties could not recuse the judge. “We did not receive any official notice that the criminal case went to court. If there was a decision on self-recusation, notices should have been sent to the sides,” the lawyer said.
Around 3:30 pm on May 15 Private Lyuks Stepanian, 19, died from a gunshot wound to the head. L. Stepanian’s fellow soldier David Khachatrian was arrested on suspicion of murder.