The Prosecutor's Office of Lepel District supported the state prosecution under Part 1 of Article 139 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.
In late March 2023, citizen M., previously not convicted, while in a state of alcoholic intoxication, at his place of residence in Lepel, during an argument that arose due to suddenly developed personal animosity, with the intent to unlawfully deprive the victim V. of life (homicide), intentionally struck him with a working part of an axe at least once to the head, thereby causing the victim an open craniocerebral trauma with fractures of the skull vault and base, and intracranial haemorrhages, which by their severity indicate grievous bodily harm directly causing death.
The accused partially admitted guilt at the court hearing and explained that he had been drinking alcoholic beverages with the victim during the day, and conflicts periodically arose between them while drinking. In the afternoon, during a conflict with the victim V., while they were sitting at a table, the accused took an axe that was nearby and struck the victim V. with it. The blow landed on the left frontal part of the head. The guilt of the accused M. in the committed crime was confirmed during the court hearing.
The court recognised the presence of a minor child dependent on the accused as a mitigating circumstance.
The court recognised the commission of the crime by a person in a state of alcoholic intoxication as an aggravating circumstance.
Taking into account the position of the state prosecutor, the court found the accused guilty of the crime provided for in Part 1 of Article 139 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus and sentenced him to 9 years of imprisonment with serving the sentence in a penal colony under an enhanced regime. The accused was also ordered to pay material compensation for moral damage in the amount of 5,000 rubles to the victim.
The sentence has entered into legal force.
Assistant Prosecutor
of Lepel District