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Yesterday, June 19, 2018, the examination of the case of Hripsime Nazlukhanyan, a new mother who died at Vanadzor Medical Center in October 2016, continued at the Court of General Jurisdiction of Lori Region.

David Shahverdyan, senior obstetrician-gynecologist at Vanadzor Medical Center, is accused of causing the new mother’s death.

A charge was brought against him under Article 130 § 2 of the RA Criminal Code for failure to implement/improper implementation of professional duties, which caused the patient’s death.

After adjourning the court sessions twice due to the absence of Artak Voskanyan, the defender, the second session took place yesterday with a delay of 15 minutes.

At the previous court hearing, Davit Shahverdyan’s defender A. Voskanyan expressed the wish to challenge the judge after his motions being rejected, and, on that ground, he asked to adjourn the court session.

Despite that, the defender decided not to challenge the judge.

Instead, he claimed that David Shahverdyan is not “a member of medical and support personnel”, and the charge brought against him refers to medical and support personnel. The defender submitted a document supporting his standpoint and asked to enclose it to the materials of the case.

The court passed on to the trial and asked the witnesses invited in connection with the case to leave the courtroom.

Prosecuting Attorney G. Manukyan presented the accusation, following which the defendant and his defender declared that the accusation was incomprehensible. They insisted on the same even after the prosecuting attorney’s clarifications, and then David Shahverdyan pleaded not guilty.

After determining the procedure for examining the evidence, Prosecuting Attorney G. Manukyan presented the expert conclusions.

Defender A. Voskanyan filed a motion to question experts V. Sakanyan and H. Chakhoyan as well; the charge was brought on the basis of their testimonies. The defender expressed the standpoint that there was a contradiction between the expert conclusions and their testimonies. The court is to examine the motion upon examining the evidence as the experts are to be questioned as witnesses.

While defender A. Voskanyan was presenting his standpoint, the legal successors of the victim expressed their indignation over his way of presenting it and the duration of the standpoint being expressed. This led to a dispute between the parties.

After the incident, A. Voskanyan declared that he was unable to keep working and carrying out defense in such a situation and filed a motion to adjourn the session. Despite that, he decided to resume his work and then again expressed his wish to adjourn the court session.

He is going to submit a report on, as alleged by him, showing a disrespectful attitude to an advocate and threatening him.

The next court session is scheduled for 2.00 pm on July 11, 2018.