VERDICT ON INCIDENT IN “TRIUMPH” CAFE TO BE PRONOUNCED ON AUGUST 17

YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). Proceedings started and rapidly
completed on the incident, which took place on March 12, 2004, in
Yerevan’s cafe “Triumph”, at the court of the first instance of the
Kentron and Nork-Marash Communities of Yereva non August 16. The court
presided over by Judge Mnatsakan Martirosian went to the consultation
room to pass the vedict. Those present at the trial were informed that
the verdict will be pronounced on August 17. Defendant Hayk Aramian,
the son of former RA Minister of Urban Development Ara Aramian,
together with his friend Khachatur Khachatrian started an unreasonable
fight with security service employee Artur Gevorgian in the cafe yard
that day. H. Aramian is accused of shooting, deliberately and at the
risk of many other people’s lives, from the illegally kept “Mauser”
revolver and inflicting bodily injuries of medium gravity to three
persons: Aghvan Matevosian, Armen Arsenian and Levon Vardanian. Artur
Gevorgian, another defendant of the case, is accused of starting an
unreasonable fight and stabbing Hayk Aramian and Khachatur
Khachatrian, inflicting to them medium and high gravity bodily
injuries, respectively. Both defendants admitted their guilt, refused
to give evidence asking that their preliminary evidences be considered
as the basis. Although, according to the Criminal Code, in case of a
refusal to give evidence the defendants’ preliminary evidences may be
pronounced in the court, medidation for their announcenent was not
submitted and the defendants were not asked questions. By the way, the
defendants themselves conducted their defense in the court. The
evidences of the victims who did not attend the hearing but who asked
that their preliminary evidences be considered as the basis were not
announced either. Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan in his speech of the
prosecution solicited that Hayk Aramian be sentenced to 6 years, Artur
Gevorgian – to 3.5 years of imprisonment. At the same time, the
prosecutor mediated for the reduction of imprisonment by using a
three-year probation.