Russia: Professor found with woman's severed arms bursts into tears as court announces his detention
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg
November 11, 2019 at 18:43 GMT +00:00 · Published
Saint Petersburg's Oktyabrsky District Court arrested 63-year-old history professor Oleg Sokolov on murder charges on Monday.
As the judge announced the decision to detain Sokolov until January 8th, 2020, the accused professor burst into tears.
His lawyer didn't agree with the verdict, saying that "it's inhumane to throw a respected 63-year old man with so many honors into a prison cell with recidivists."
Sokolov, a French history expert and a professor at the Saint Petersburg State University, on Sunday confessed to murdering his student with whom he had co-authored a number of articles and was in a relationship.
He was hauled out of the Moyka River on Saturday with a backpack containing the severed arms of a woman.
According to preliminary data, the arms belonged to his student, 24-year-old Anastasia Yeshchenko.
Remains of a woman and a bloodied hacksaw were reportedly later found in his apartment.
According to the Russia's Investigative Committee, a criminal case has been opened and the investigation is ongoing.
Mexico: Two Honduran children from migrant caravan go missing
UK: Souvenir shop discounts Meghan and Harry merchandise after 'Megxit'