Epress.am News from Armenia
The trial in the case of rifle platoon commander Artak Nazaryan, who died on a military base on Jul. 27, 2010, continued in a Tavush court on Tuesday — but without the presence of the victim party.
The victim’s legal successor, Artak’s sister Tsovinar Nazaryan, in conversation with Epress.am, said that her representative, Ruben Martirosyan, was unwell and for this reason could not attend the trial. Subsequently, Tsovinar appealed to Judge Samvel Mardanyan in writing, asking him to postpone the court date, but the judge rejected the request.
Attorney Alvard Mnatsakanyan, representing Adibek Hovhannisyan, Harutik Kirakosyan and Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, all named as the accused in the case, informed Epress.am that witness Artak Hovhannisyan said in court yesterday that the testimonies he gave during the pre-trial investigation were inaccurate and said in court that the three aforementioned accused didn’t beat Artak Nazaryan, but rather joked with him in a friendly way.
According to the attorney, this testimony proves that her clients didn’t actually do that which they’re accused of doing.
Mnatsakanyan, the defense attorney, said that Hovhannisyan, the witness, testified in court that during the pre-trial investigation he told the inspector that her clients were joking with Artak Nazaryan, but, according to the witness, the investigator took it upon himself to record the testimony differently, saying he can’t write that they were joking.
“Due to my questions, we discovered from this witness that my clients are not guilty of the beating,” she said.
Mnatsakanyan’s examination of the witness will continue in court later today.