In the criminal court of Atyrau, where the case of the murder of four people is being heard, defendant Sultan Sarsemaliyev spoke during the judicial debates. Earlier, prosecutor Miras Bauyrzhanov requested a life sentence for him; the accused himself stated that he is fully prepared for any court decision but urged to examine the hidden causes of the tragedy. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Sarsemaliyev emphasized that he admitted his guilt immediately after his arrest at Almaty airport and does not intend to evade responsibility. In his speech, he explained that he gave consistent testimony at all stages of the investigation and does not dispute the position of the state prosecution, but wants society to hear his motives.
According to the defendant, he was driven to commit the crime by a desire to protect his own children, and his relatives allegedly exerted strong pressure on him.
"I know why and how I did it. I said this not for my own justification, but to reveal the criminal case. I do not object to what the state prosecutor says. I would like the court to analyze not only the consequences of the crime but also its causes. They made a beast out of a man. Before this, I had never been brought to criminal or administrative responsibility. They wanted to force me to live according to someone else's orders. Taking advantage of my wife's illness and the helplessness of my five children, they wanted to blackmail me," Sarsemaliyev stated.
The accused added that he took this step so that his five children would ultimately "not be left without parents."
The defendant separately addressed the issue of remorse, refuting claims about his cold-bloodedness. Sarsemaliyev admitted that he violated "the laws of the state and God" and emphasized that he never denied his guilt. He added that he would accept absolutely any severe punishment.