EXAMINATION OF APPEALS IN SEDRAK ZATIKIAN MURDER CASE POSTPONED

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The February 7 sitting of the
Criminal Appeal Court to examine the case of murder of Sedrak Zatikian
(son of the former head of Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia community Vahan
Zatikian) did take place due to absence of Marieta Badalian, defence
lawyer of defendant Arsen Arushanian. The next court sitting is
scheduled for February 15, NT correspondent was informed by the
Criminal Appeal Court. Like in the court of first instance, the trial
in the appeal court is closed-door.

The appeal court examines the case based on appeals of the above
mentioned lawyer and all the three defendants. They filed a petition to
mitigate the punishment imposed by the December 29 sentence of the
Malatia-Sebastia community court: A. Arushanian was sentenced to life
imprisonment, while Artur Hovhannesian and Lusine Ghevondian accused of
aiding the murder were sentenced to 11 years’ and 8 years’ imprisonment
respectively.

Sedrak Zatikian was killed in Malatia-Sebastia community on June 22,
2006. Karine Sargsian, a passer-by, was also killed by a shot.