Trial Begins in Murder of Aizat Zhumanova After Case Reclassified from “Negligence” to Intentional Homicide

A preliminary hearing has begun in Taldykorgan against Zhanbolat Aybar, the husband of Aizat Dzhumanova, who stands accused of premeditated homicide. Dzhumanova’s death was initially classified as “negligence,” but her family fought to have the case re-examined — insisting the injuries on her body pointed to a sustained and brutal assault, not an accident. 

After exhumation and a second forensic review, the charge was raised to Article 99, Part 1 — intentional homicide, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

A journalist from Orda.kz was present in court and spoke with the victim’s relatives.

Family members say Aizat had endured repeated domestic violence. They rejected early investigative conclusions and demanded a new examination, which ultimately confirmed their claims and led to a reclassification of the case.

Without this push, the family believes the case would have ended with a far lesser charge.

The Hearing

In court, the prosecutor read out the charges against Zhanbolat Aybar, outlining the investigation’s account of how the homicide unfolded.

According to the case file, on the night of Aizat’s death, Aybar had been drinking, consumed several bottles of beer, and — recalling that she had once spoken to another man on the phone — became enraged with jealousy.

Investigators say he began assaulting her while she begged him to stop and called for help.

He hit her on the head and vital organs, and seeing that she was no longer showing signs of life, he didn't call an ambulance. To cover up the crime, he waited until she lost consciousness completely, and only then took her to the hospital,
 the prosecutor stated.

Doctors attempted to save Aizat, but she died roughly thirty minutes later.

Her aunt, Raushan Daurenbekova, told journalists she was shocked when she saw the young woman’s body.

When I arrived at the morgue, her mother-in-law was sitting there. When I looked at the marks of violence, the wounds on her body, I screamed, 'Did they tie her to a horse and drag her? What happened to her body?' Because judging by the wounds, the abrasions, the injuries on her body, her head, the blades of grass and debris stuck in her hair, we got the feeling she'd been dragged, as if tied to a horse.

He didn't admit to the crime. Whether or not to admit it is his constitutional right. But during all this time, his relatives have never once asked us for forgiveness. They lied from day one and continue to believe their lies. Even now, when they entered the courtroom, they didn't even say hello to us. They don't consider us human beings.

The victim’s family maintains that without media attention and a second forensic review, the case would have remained classified as negligent homicide (manslaughter).

Judge Adilet Bakhytov formally opened the trial. The defense objected to media presence; ultimately, only a ban on capturing the defendant's image was placed.

The next hearing is scheduled for December 5.

Original Author: Perizat Zharylkasyn