Witnesses questioned on the case of causing serviceman to commit suicide insist that they were guided by the investigator
17:25, July 28, 2017 | News, Own news | Right to Life, Rights of Soldiers/Recruits | Armed Forces
On July 26, 2017 the RA General Jurisdiction Court of Syunik Marz (Region) resumed hearing the witnesses on the case of causing serviceman Gevorg Khachatryan to commit suicide.
Note that under the initiated criminal proceedings, charges were brought against Captain Mher Voskanyan, head of the post (under Articles 364.1(2), 375(1) and 360(2) of the RA Criminal Code), non- commissioned officer Hovik Kalashyan, major of the post (under Articles 364.1(1) and 375(1) of the RA Criminal Code) and conscript serviceman Harutyun Muradyan (under Articles 359(2)(2), 364.1(1) on 2 episodes and 359(3) of the RA Criminal Code).
The court hearing was attended by both defendants and their defense attorneys, and victim’s successor Hasmik Avetisyan and her representatives Artur Sakunts, Chairman of HCA Vanadzor, and Tatevik Siradeghyan, lawyer at Yerevan office of the Organization.
The court questioned witnesses Albert Sargsyan and Koryun Manukyan. Sergey Davtyan, another fellow serviceman of G. Khachatryan, who was also summoned as a witness, did not attend the hearing.
They also gave testimonies contradicting those given during the preliminary investigation and explained that by being depressed during the preliminary investigation and mentioned that they gave some testimonies then guided by the investigator.
Witness A. Sargsyan said that after consulting a lawyer, he realized that he might change his testimonies provided during the preliminary investigation and decided to tell the truth during the confrontation. Upon the motion of the prosecution party, the Court disclosed the testimonies of the witness given during the preliminary investigation and then the parties asked questions on the contradictions.
And witness K. Manukyan said that the investigator brought to him some paper on the expert examination results and said that it might serve as a basis for initiating criminal proceedings against him, and as a result he felt pressure. But then he consulted lawyers and realized that it might not serve as a basis for initiating any criminal proceedings. The witness explained this way changing his testimonies during the confrontation. Besides, he noted that the investigator urged him to insist on his testimony of an episode in the kitchen saying that otherwise A. Antonyan who mentioned it in his testimonies might face criminal liability for false testimony.
The testimonies of this witness were also disclosed, and the participants asked questions on the contradictions.
The Court also ruled to apprehend properly notified witness S. Davtyan and postponed the trial examination till August 21, 2017, 10 am.