Father of Killed Cadet Alleges Threats from Defense Lawyer

Arkady Barseghyan, the father of Vazgen Sargsyan Military Institute cadet Haykaz Barseghyan who was found dead in the institute’s sports-ground in January 2015, says he is repeatedly being threatened by Ara Zakaryan, a lawyer for one of the four fellow cadets charged with Barseghyan's murder.

“During a break at the previous hearing, I told prosecutor Aroyan that Zakaryan was pressuring witness Tigran Demirchyan into testifying to something he did not remember seeing. I said it was not uncommon for any of the parties to forget things during the hearings, and that the lawyer himself has repeatedly forgotten stuff and turned to his notes for help. So, why is it that the witness has to have definite answers to anything he is asked? Why can't he say he was too shocked to remember?” Arkady Barseghyan told Epress.am today, adding that, having overheard the conversation, the defense lawyer approached him and talked to him in a threatening manner.

“He said he was doing nothing wrong and that he would continue to behave exactly as he did. When I asked him what else he could do, he replied 'You'll see,'” Barseghyan alleged. 

The father of the killed military cadet then complained to judge Davit Harutyunyan about the lawyer's behaviour, who, according to Barseghyan, did not believe him, saying; “He's a professional, he wouldn't have said such a thing.”