Tikhonov and Khasis found guilty of murdering Markelov and Baburova

The jury engaged in the trial of the murder case of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist of the "Novaya Gazeta" Anastasia Baburova has found the defendants in the case - Nikita Tikhonov and Eugenia Khasis - guilty of the crime.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today the jurors started the procedure of voting on the murder case of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova.

The jurors found proved the Tikhonov's accusation of murdering Anastasia Baburova with the aim to hide Markelov's murder. He and Khasis were also found guilty of trafficking in arms and ammunition.

The jurors voted unanimously for the fact that Tikhonov was guilty of forging documents and on this point he also deserves no leniency, according to RIA "Novosti".

Seven out of twelve jurors voted for the defendants' guilt.

It took more than six hours for the jury to make the decision. Judge Alexander Zamashnyuk twice returned them to the jury's room, as he thought the verdict was too vague. The jury was to answer 21 questions, the "BFM.ru" writes.

As stated by Alexander Vasiliev, Nikita Tikhonov's advocate, the defence would appeal against the court's verdict based on the jury's decision.

The advocate has explained that after the today's decision of the jury, his client is under threat of life imprisonment, while Eugenia Khasis may spend up to 20 years in colony, the "Interfax" reports.

The defendants listened to the verdict of the jury outwardly calm, holding hands.

The legal discussion of the jury's decision will be held on May 5. On that day, the prosecutors will ask for particular terms for the defendants.

Meanwhile, as stated by prosecutor Boris Loktionov, the state prosecution is satisfied with the verdict of the jury against Nikita Tikhonov and Eugenia Khasis.

Mikhail Markelov, the brother of the slain lawyer, told reporters that he was also satisfied with the jury's verdict. He noted "a small spread of votes," which, in his view, demonstrates the fairness of the passed decision.

"I was the least interested person in making an unlawful verdict and punishing those innocent," the Russian Agency of Legal and Judicial Information (RAPSI) quotes Mikhail Markelov as saying.

On April 27 the defendants in the murder case of Markelov and Baburova spoke before the jury with the last plea, in which they refused to admit their guilt.