Investigation Completed in the Case of the Murder of a Church Guardian

The investigation into the murder of a church guardian in Abovyan has been completed by the Kotayk regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee, as reported by the information and public relations department of the Investigative Committee.

According to the obtained data, on May 24, 2020, at around 2:00 PM, a 68-year-old resident of Abovyan went to the church yard located near the cemetery in the "Saralanj" neighborhood to wash himself, where a dispute arose between him and the church guardian over a personal matter. During the altercation, the 68-year-old man struck the guardian on the head with a bottle, causing him to fall.

The 68-year-old man left the scene but returned to the church yard at around 7:00 PM the same day, where he argued with the guardian again over the same issue. He inflicted multiple blows to the guardian's body, including the head, with his hands, feet, and a basalt stone, intentionally. Continuing with his criminal intent, he then pressed on the guardian’s neck, causing mechanical asphyxiation and unlawfully taking the guardian's life.

Based on the gathered sufficient evidence, charges have been brought against the 68-year-old man under Part 1 of Article 104 (murder) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. He has been detained as a preventive measure. The investigation has concluded, and the criminal case has been sent to court with an accusatory conclusion.

Note: A person suspected or accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law of the Republic of Armenia by a judicial decision that has entered into legal force.