Plovdiv Regional Court has ordered Atanas Dechev to stay in custody. He is charged as an accomplice in the murder of Iliyan Filipov. The court rejected his request for house arrest.

Police detained Dechev on 11 November, two days ago, near his home in Pazardzhik. He is the second person held in the case. A prosecutor first ordered him held for up to 72 hours.

The background: Pazardzhik man is second person held over killing of Iliyan Filipov

Filipov was shot dead in the early hours of 30 September in a residential building in Plovdiv's Hristo Smirnenski district. Prosecutors say Slavcho Megerov pulled the trigger and Dechev helped him. Megerov was detained in Sofia the same day and remains in custody. On 6 November, police and prosecutors said they had found the murder weapon. Prosecutors say the motive is personal and linked to money matters.

The court said the case files give enough grounds to believe Dechev was involved. It also found evidence that he might go into hiding. At the request of prosecutors, the hearing was held behind closed doors.

Prosecutor Dimitar Molev said Dechev helped with logistics by passing on information about the victim's behaviour. He said more analysis and searches for further information are to come, and that work on the case is going in many directions. Molev gave no details about video recordings in the case or other parts of the investigation.

Dechev's lawyer, Krasimir Eldarov, said the question is whether his client knew or suspected what was going on, and there is no evidence that he did. He said his client says only that he has nothing to do with the charge.

For now, Dechev is not answering questions or giving explanations. In his final words to the court, he said he is married and has two young children.

The ruling can be appealed to the Court of Appeal within three days.