17 July 2014, 07:42
In Sochi, woman accused of beating court marshal placed under home arrest
The Sochi court dealing with assaulting a court marshal has placed the defendant under home arrest, demanding her presence at the session scheduled for July 25. The defendant claims that she has medical documents confirming the impossibility of her presence at the trial.
Let us remind you that on February 4 the Khosta District Court of Sochi sentenced the mother and daughter, named Olga Martynyuk and Oksana Toropova, accused of assaulting a court marshal, to a year of imprisonment in a colony settlement each. On February 27, the women appealed against the verdict.
The court session was to take place on July 7, but it was postponed because of Oksana Toropova's illness, who was hospitalized on indications of pregnancy maintenance. The court appointed a new hearing for July 25, but then rescheduled it to July 16.
The defendants' advocate Yuri Dudchenko told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he had learned about the new date of the session a few hours before it from a telephone messages sent by the court; and he was unable to appear at the session. He added that his client was at hospital because of a threat to her pregnancy. However, he was informed that his clients will be forced to come to the session, which is "against the law."
Meanwhile, the court has explained that Oksana Toropova's medical certificate did not state directly that she was not able to participate in the trial.
Oksana Toropova herself stated that she would not appear in court, as she worries about the health of her future child.
Author: Svetlana Kravchenko Source: CK correspondent
