An additional posthumous forensic examination has been appointed for the case of ManucharManucharyan
During the court hearing on July 21, 2016 over the suicide case of a conscript soldier ManucharManucharyan (according to the official version he was driven to suicide), the Judge partially accepted the joint motion of the defendant and the injured party to have a new posthumous forensic medical examination.
According to the previous examination carried out during the preliminary investigation by the expert Ms. Elda Grin Abrahamyan, Mr. Manucharyan “could” commit suicide because there is a causal link between his suicide and the actions of defendants Stepanyan and Gaboyan.
In other words, the defendants, allegedly oppressed, beaten and humiliated Mr. Manucharyan, and as a result the latter committed suicide. The aggrieved party, both during the preliminary investigation and the trial,announced and presented evidence that Mr. Manucharyan was murdered and, therefore, the aggrieved party did not accept the false hypothesis of a suicide. The representative of the aggrieved party, Peace Dialogue NGO’s expert and criminologist, Mr. Rouben Martirosyan has been mentioning constantlythat as a result of an intentionally false investigation two innocent soldiers were arrested and had been kept in prison for more than two years.
The aggrieved party did not accept Elda Grin Abrahamyan’s abovementioned conclusionalso. Rouben Martirosyan stated: “This expert made a conclusion based on only one soldier’s, Libik Mkrtchyan’s testimony which was obviously false.”
According to Libik Mkrtchyan, on the day of the incident Mr. Manucharyan was depressed and discouraged and walked with his head down. The expert did not take into account the testimonies of the other 6 soldiers who were on guard service with Mr. Manucharyan the same day and mentioned in their testimonies that Manucharyan was in normal mood and was not depressed at all. One of the soldiers even mentioned that Manucharyan was even making jokes and telling funny stories to the others.
During the hearing it became clear that Libik Mkrtchyan obviously gave false testimony and that he had to renounce some of his previous testimonies. During the hearing it was also revealed that during the preliminary investigation testimonies were obtained with violations of law and under pressure. At court they renounced their previous testimonies.
Taking into consideration all the above mentioned, the defendant and the aggrieved party petitioned to have a double forensic medical examination, however the Judge had rejected the motion months ago. Eventually, during this hearing a decision was made to have a supplementary examination instead of a double examination.
The double examination provides that the examination must be carried out by another expert, however the Court made a decision to have a supplementary investigation instead, which means that the expert should be the same and he/she should complete his/her previous examination based on the new facts revealed during the court hearing and give a new expert opinion.
Thus, it is envisaged that considering the newly discovered circumstances, the same expert Elda Grin Abrahamyan will give a new expert opinion. Mr. Martirosyan explains that the situation of this case is unique and unprecedented: all the evidence proves that there was a fourth gunshot wound on Manuchar Manucharyan (from behind, in the area of the thigh bone). Mr. Martirosyan insists that it was not a suicide but a murder.
If Elda Grin Abrahamyan changes her opinion based on the newly revealed evidence, the supplementary examination may result in an acquittal verdictand the case may be returned to the preliminary investigative body for a new investigation.
Posted 03 August, 2016
