28 Dec 2022 17:51

Russian court sentences man charged with killing students at Perm university to life imprisonment

PERM. Dec 28 (Interfax) - The Perm Territory Court on Wednesday sentenced Timur Bekmansurov, a former student at Perm State University, to life in prison for the armed attack and killing of students and visitors of the university, an Interfax correspondent reported from the courthouse.

"Bekmansurov is sentenced to life imprisonment to be served in a maximum security penal colony," Judge Sergei Korobeinikov said, reading out the sentence.

Bekmansurov will serve the first three years of his sentence in prison, and then he will be moved to a maximum security penal colony, the judge said.

The court found the defendant guilty of murder, attempted murder, deliberate destruction or damage to property, as well as an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer.

When sentencing him, the court took into account mitigating circumstances: active assistance in the investigation of the crimes, confession of guilt, chronic diseases and disability. The court listed the use of weapons and ammunition among the aggravating circumstances.

The court also granted the civil claims of the aggrieved parties for a total of 25.2 million rubles.

The courtroom was packed with journalists, and the court read out the sentence from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. One of those present there felt unwell during the pronouncement of the sentence and left the courtroom.

Six people were killed and 47 were injured in a shooting incident at a building of the Perm State University in the morning of September 20, 2021. The gunfire damaged vehicles and property of the university.

During the investigation, Bekmansurov pleaded guilty but did not explain his conduct and refused to testify. He is not registered as a drug addict or a mentally ill patient, but is listed as disabled due to a partial leg amputation.