Two and a Half Years Later, Still No Verdict in Aibolat Muratkhan’s Homicide Case

In the village of Yesik, near Talgar, 14-year-old Aibolat Muratkhan was killed in 2023. More than two years later, the criminal case surrounding his death is ongoing, marked by judge replacements, procedural delays, and a controversial additional forensic examination. 

His parents spoke with Orda.kz.

Orda.kz first reported on Aibolat’s death in October 2024. Following the article, the main suspect — who had been free for over a year and a half — was finally taken into custody.

Meanwhile, two judges have already been replaced, and just as the case was nearing closing arguments, the court ordered one more forensic examination, citing “additional questions” related to the exhumation findings.

Hearings have now dragged on for over six months.

According to Aibolat’s mother, Ugybaida Sairat, the boy was first assaulted by a local student named Zhandos, who had been extorting money from other kids. Audio recordings found on Aibolat’s phone support this — one features a voice threatening, “Anyone who doesn’t pay will be punished.”

After the beating, Aibolat’s condition worsened. He was admitted to intensive care, where his heart reportedly stopped five times before he passed away.

Aibolat was also reportedly assaulted by other teenagers: Meirambek, Altynbek, Nurtilek, Rasul, and Yerkinbek. According to his parents, the money collected was used to pay off debts and loans.

The case is unfolding in the same district where 16-year-old Sherzat Polat was killed. But while Sherzat’s suspects were arrested immediately and sentenced within nine months.

It feels like in our country, you can’t get justice unless a case gets public attention. Without publicity, there’s no reaction, says Aibolat’s mother. 

She believes the court is deliberately stalling the process in hopes of quietly closing the case.

The court never said why they needed a second examination. We already had a full forensic report. The documents they gave us claimed there were 'additional questions.' But why not just bring the two experts into court and ask them directly? Honestly, it feels like they’re just dragging this out on purpose, so they can quietly shut the case down. The investigation took two years, and they kept suspending and closing it. The hearings started back in December 2024. Then, in February, it was moved to the Qarasay district, and some of those sessions were online. After that, the judge was replaced again, and the new one sent everything back to the Yenbekshikazakh district. In April, things finally got moving again — but right when we got to the debate stage, they put it on hold all over again.she said. 

The original cause of death was listed as illness, but the parents pushed for an exhumation six months later. That second examination found that Aibolat died from internal bleeding caused by blunt trauma.

Blood clots had formed in his gastrointestinal tract and later turned into serous fluid.

Now, Aibolat's mother says, they’re redoing the examination – allegedly to support the original claim that Aibolat died of appendicitis, not injuries. His mother is also concerned about the objectivity of the new expert, Takhir Khalimnazarov.

The first examination report — the one that said that my son died from complications of a condition — was written by Bauyrzhan Kurametov, who has since passed away. As far as we know, he was on good terms with Khalimnazarov. Therefore, we are afraid that he will not go against Kurametov's conclusion and will simply confirm them, she said. 

After more than two years of stress, grief, and unanswered questions, Ugybaida Sairat says she’s exhausted — but she’s not giving up.

Sherzat died in October 2024 — his case was investigated and closed with a verdict in just nine months. My son died in March 2023, and we’re still waiting for a decision. Why? They had nine suspects. We have one. And the court still isn’t moving.she added. 

Orda.kz editorial team sent an official request to the Yenbekshikazakh District Court, inquiring about the above circumstances.

We received a formal reply:

Orda.kz editorial staff will continue to closely monitor the developments.

Original Author: Perizat Jarylqasyn