BUDAPEST (Combined Sources)–A Hungarian court trying the case of an Armenian officer slain by Azeri counterpart Ramil Safarov in Budapest–announced that the next session will be held on September 27.
Hayk Demoyan–a representative of the Armenian armed forces–informed that during the hearing–which lasted 55 minutes–the judge said the forensic expertise was carried out twice and showed different results–thereby adjourning the case until the specified date. The court is to hear testimonies from forensic experts and eyewitnesses from Azerbaijan and Lithuania at the next hearing.
He said some provisions of the second examination refer to the psychological condition of the Azeri officer at the moment of the crime–though–according to Demoyan–the examination’s results are not final. According to Hungarian law–experts conducting the two examinations have to meet and give a final conclusion; otherwise–a third examination is possible.
Safarov used an ax and a knife to kill Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Margarian in his sleep early morning on February 19–2004. Both officers were attending an English language training course at the Hungarian National Defense University in Budapest as part of the NATO Partnership for Peace Program.
Hungarian police said the murder was committed with "unusual cruelty"–the Armenian officer’s head was nearly cut off–and was witnessed by the victim’s Hungarian roommate who called the police. The Azeri then apparently intended to kill a second Armenian officer–sleeping in a room nearby–but was stopped by a Lithuanian officer–who was awakened by the noise.