Epress.am News from Armenia
The prosecuting attorney has demanded 5 years imprisonment for Gavar resident Sargis Hakobyan, although Hakobyan’s wife’s, aggrieved Hasmik Khachatryan, lawyer Tigran Muradyan believes the defendants has to receive the stricter punishment of 7 years.
Yesterday, in the Gegharkunik District Court of First Instance, Hasmik Khachatryan’s criminal case against Sargis Hakobyan finally came to an end. The prosecutor, Lalayan, stated that the guilt of the 33-year old Hakobyan is proven. He demanded that the defendants be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and to detain him immediately after the verdict. During the entire trial was Hakobyan free and was allowed to be free on the condition that he not flee the country.
Hakobyan is being accused for criminal code article 119 (torture), which defines 3-7 years imprisonment. Despite Hasmik Khachatryan’s lawyer demanding the harshest punishment, the prosecutor has taken the milder punishment considering that Sargis Hakobyan is in custody of one minor child.
During lawyer Muradyan’s speech in the court session, he noted that within the duration of the trial the defendant continued to put pressure on Khachatryan, specifically threatening her. The lawyer also stressed that Hakobyan’s crime was conducted during the time period when his previous trial had still not concluded; Hakobyan’s was found guilty of hooliganism. The next court session will take place on November 20, in which the defendant’s side will present their defense speech.
Recall, that Hakobyan claimed he never beat his wife, and only hit her once before. He also denied Khachatryan’s testimony, which stated that he put out his cigarette on her hand, and he countered claiming the wound was, in fact, a very old scar. According to the victim’s testimony, one day her husband came home after drinking alcohol and asked his wife, if she knew whether her husband was a “a good guy”, and put out his cigarette on her hand.