Andrei Chikatilo: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "right|300px '''Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo '''was a Soviet serial killer nicknamed '''The Butcher of Rostov, The Red Ripper '''and '''The Rostov Ripper '..."
 
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==Trial and Conviction==
==Trial and Conviction==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Andrei_Romanovich_Chikatilo_Trial_1992.jpg ][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Andrei_Romanovich_Chikatilo_Trial_1992.jpg ]Chikatilo, pictured at his trial in April 1992.Chikatilo's trial was the first major media event of liberalized post-Soviet Russia. Proceedings commenced in Rostov on 14 April 1992.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-102"></sup> During the trial, Chikatilo was kept in an iron cage in a corner of the courtroom to protect him from attack by the many enraged and, often, hysterical relatives of his victims. Chikatilo's head had been shaved — a standard prison procedure, officially to prevent the spread of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lice lice].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-103"></sup> Relatives of victims regularly shouted threats and insults at Chikatilo throughout the trial, demanding that authorities release him so that they could kill him themselves. Each murder was discussed individually and, on several occasions, relatives broke down in tears when details of their relatives' murder were revealed; some even fainted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-104"></sup>


Chikatilo repeatedly interrupted the trial, exposing himself, singing, and refusing to answer questions put to him by the judge. He was regularly removed from the courtroom for interrupting the proceedings<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-105"></sup> On 13 May, Chikatilo withdrew his confessions to six of the killings,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-106"></sup>and in July 1992, he demanded that the judge be replaced for making too many rash remarks which assumed his guilt. His defense counsel backed the claim. Even the prosecutor supported the defense's claim, stating the judge had indeed made too many such comments.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-107"></sup> The judge ruled that the prosecutor be replaced instead.
[[File:Andrei_Romanovich_Chikatilo_Trial_1992.jpg|thumb]]Chikatilo, pictured at his trial in April 1992.Chikatilo's trial was the first major media event of liberalized post-Soviet Russia. Proceedings commenced in Rostov on 14 April 1992. During the trial, Chikatilo was kept in an iron cage in a corner of the courtroom to protect him from attack by the many enraged and, often, hysterical relatives of his victims. Chikatilo's head had been shaved — a standard prison procedure, officially to prevent the spread of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lice lice]. Relatives of victims regularly shouted threats and insults at Chikatilo throughout the trial, demanding that authorities release him so that they could kill him themselves. Each murder was discussed individually and, on several occasions, relatives broke down in tears when details of their relatives' murder were revealed; some even fainted.
 
Chikatilo repeatedly interrupted the trial, exposing himself, singing, and refusing to answer questions put to him by the judge. He was regularly removed from the courtroom for interrupting the proceedings On 13 May, Chikatilo withdrew his confessions to six of the killings,and in July 1992, he demanded that the judge be replaced for making too many rash remarks which assumed his guilt. His defense counsel backed the claim. Even the prosecutor supported the defense's claim, stating the judge had indeed made too many such comments. The judge ruled that the prosecutor be replaced instead.


On 9 August, both prosecution and defense delivered their final arguments before the judge. Chikatilo again attempted to interrupt the proceedings and had to be removed from the courtroom. Final sentence was postponed until 14 October. As the final deliberations began, the brother of Lyudmila Alekseyeva, a 17-year-old girl killed by Chikatilo in August 1984, threw a heavy chunk of metal at Chikatilo, hitting him in the chest.When security tried to arrest the young man, other victims' relatives shielded him.
On 9 August, both prosecution and defense delivered their final arguments before the judge. Chikatilo again attempted to interrupt the proceedings and had to be removed from the courtroom. Final sentence was postponed until 14 October. As the final deliberations began, the brother of Lyudmila Alekseyeva, a 17-year-old girl killed by Chikatilo in August 1984, threw a heavy chunk of metal at Chikatilo, hitting him in the chest.When security tried to arrest the young man, other victims' relatives shielded him.


On 14 October, the court reconvened and the judge read the list of murders again, not finishing until the following day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-110">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Chikatilo#cite_note-110 [110]]</sup> On 15 October, Chikatilo was found guilty of 52 of the 53 murders and sentenced to death for each offense. He was also found guilty of five counts of sexual assault committed during the years he worked as a teacher in the 1970s. Chikatilo kicked his bench across his cage when he heard the verdict, and began shouting abuse. However, when given an opportunity to make a speech in response to the verdict, he remained silent.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-111"></sup>Upon passing final sentence, Judge Leonid Akhobzyanov made the following speech:
On 14 October, the court reconvened and the judge read the list of murders again, not finishing until the following day.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-110">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Chikatilo#cite_note-110 [110]]</sup> On 15 October, Chikatilo was found guilty of 52 of the 53 murders and sentenced to death for each offense. He was also found guilty of five counts of sexual assault committed during the years he worked as a teacher in the 1970s. Chikatilo kicked his bench across his cage when he heard the verdict, and began shouting abuse. However, when given an opportunity to make a speech in response to the verdict, he remained silent.Upon passing final sentence, Judge Leonid Akhobzyanov made the following speech:
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Chikatilo was taken from the courtroom to his cell at Novocherkassk prison to await execution. He did file an appeal against his conviction with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Supreme_Court Russian Supreme Court], but it was rejected in 1993.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-112"></sup>
Chikatilo was taken from the courtroom to his cell at Novocherkassk prison to await execution. He did file an appeal against his conviction with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Supreme_Court Russian Supreme Court], but it was rejected in 1993.
 
==Execution==
==Execution==
On 14 February, Chikatilo was taken from his death row cell to a soundproofed room in Novocherkassk prison and executed with a single gunshot behind the right ear.
On 14 February, Chikatilo was taken from his death row cell to a soundproofed room in Novocherkassk prison and executed with a single gunshot behind the right ear.