Agil Halil says in court he does not know homosexual Sergey Strekalin - UPDATED

04.07.08

10:27

According to journalist's defender Elchin Sadikhov, the court decided not to grant the petition about dropping the criminal case.

"I have raised a petition to interrogate people, beating Agil Halil, but the court denied my request", said Sadikhov.

According to him, the state prosecutor read the bill of indictment, but Halil did not agree with it.

"My defendant noted that he does not know Sergey Strekalin and saw him for the first time during confrontation", said Sadikhov.

The next court hearing is scheduled for June 7 and will start at 11:00 am.

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03.07.08

14:38

The Nasimi district court presided by judge Shahin Abdullayev has initiated court hearing on the case of homosexual Sergey Strekalin, accused of wounding Azadlyg newspaper correspondent Agil Halil.

The due information was provided by a source from the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety. The sources noted that the police officers brought Halil to court by force.

Speaking in the court, journalist's defender Elchin Sadykhov presented written petition to the judge regarding the need to drop the criminal case on Sergey Strekalin as he has nothing to do with the fact of his defendant's stabbing.

The court left for consultation. The process started at 10.30.

Sergey Strekalin faces charges under articles 127.1 (deliberate causing of slight not life-threatening harm to health) and 234.1 (illegal production, purchase, storing, transfer or sale of drugs, psychotropic substances or precursors) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

Strekalin met Agil Halil in 2005 near Ganjlik metro station. They had sexual relationships several times.

It should be noted that on February 22 Halil was brutally beaten in Baku as he was working in the olive garden, in the result of which he had his fingers broken. Those, accused of fight, denied accusations of beating the journalist.

/Day.Az/