The Varna Appellate Court upheld the strictest pre-trial detention measure against two boys – aged 15 and 18, accused of the intentional murder of a 46-year-old man in the Varna district of “Vladislav Varnenchik“. The crime was committed on April 13th for hooligan motives.
The two defendants appealed against the measure “detention” imposed on them by the Varna District Court.
The data from the pre-trial proceedings indicate that this is not their first attack on people whose ethnic origin or lifestyle they do not approve of. They participated in a similar attack two days before the investigated crime.
The case of the minor defendant, in accordance with the requirements of the law, was considered behind closed doors. According to the court panel, there is sufficient evidence that he participated in the crime. The boy has a number of antisocial behaviors in the past, which started at the age of 13.
In the second court hearing, the defense of the 18-year-old youth requested a lighter pre-trial detention measure, arguing that the defendant has a clean criminal record and no previous registrations with the police. According to the prosecutor, however, the current incident is not an isolated case. The young man participated in a similar attack – without reason and for entertainment, not only for hooligan, but also for xenophobic motives – only two days earlier, as well as in the past against another person.
Taking into account the facts presented, the Appellate Court upheld the measure “detention”. The decisions of the second instance are not subject to appeal.