Forced to Confess: Kazakhstani Acquitted

The Supreme Court has acquitted a Kazakhstani man who pleaded guilty to homicide and attempted sexual assault committed 14 years ago, Orda reports.

Police officers forced the man to incriminate himself.

The Supreme Court reports that the crime for which the Kazakhstani was convicted happened in 2010. 

The investigation based the accusation solely on his testimony. The man was initially a witness with the right to defense but later became a suspect and wrote a confession.

The man also gave contradictory statements throughout the investigation.

Each time, his descriptions of the crime differed; he also could not remember what the victim was wearing. The man's story contradicted the results of the forensic examination.

In the appellate court, the Kazakhstani did not admit guilt.

He said that he was forced to write a confession by police officers when he was already serving time in prison for another crime. In exchange, the police promised to review the sentence for which he was sentenced. 

The man learned the details of the homicide and sexual assault from photos.

There is no other evidence in the case except for confessions. In addition, procedural violations of the law were committed during the investigation, the Supreme Court emphasized. 

Ultimately, the cassation court upheld the acquittal and rejected the prosecutor's appeal. The Kazakhstani was found not guilty.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny