Yana Legkodimova: Homicide Trial Continues in Atyrau

The homicide trial of 24-year-old Yana Legkodimova is ongoing in Atyrau, Orda.kz reports. Yana disappeared in the fall of last year, and her body was discovered months later near the city.

At the preliminary hearing, both defendants refused a jury trial and pleaded partially guilty. They admitted involvement in Yana’s death but denied acting for hire and claimed they did not steal her phone.

Yana’s mother, Galina Legkodimova, testified in court, recounting the start of the search for her daughter.

Before going to the police, I decided to call Rizuan (one of the accused). He suddenly started stuttering and couldn’t put two words together. Then I realized he was lying,
the grieving mother recalled.

The investigation began with Yana’s personal diary, which contained entries that helped identify who she had been with in her final days.

She wrote about their relationship in her diary. Then Yana’s boss invited us to come to her workplace — she had two computers there. My sister and I opened them. She had messages with everyone, but there was no chat with Rizuan at all. That immediately raised alarm bells. He had deleted everything,
 said Galina.

According to the family, these details proved crucial in uncovering the truth. The investigation determined that the two accused acted in collusion. After their arrest, they admitted partial guilt but claimed Yana’s death was an “accident.”

However, their correspondence told a different story — investigators found messages where the men discussed how to kill the victim, dispose of the body, and leave no trace.

The trial is ongoing, with both sides presenting evidence, witness testimony, and investigative materials. Orda.kz continues to follow the proceedings.

Original Author: Daniel Arturov