Moscow, 27 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- A Russian appeals court today overturned the acquittals of five former paratroopers and one businessman accused of murdering journalist Dmitrii Kholodov in 1994. Kholodov was a reporter with the Moscow-based "Moskovskii komsomolets" daily. He was investigating corruption in the Russian military when he was killed in his office by a bomb planted in a suitcase.
In June of last year, a Moscow court found that the six suspects in the killing were innocent, but prosecutors and Kholodov's relatives appealed the ruling.
Russia's Military Collegium of the Supreme Court today sent the case for a second hearing by different military judges. The court said the first verdict did not take into account evidence provided by some witnesses and from the alleged organizer of the murder who initially pleaded guilty.
In June of last year, a Moscow court found that the six suspects in the killing were innocent, but prosecutors and Kholodov's relatives appealed the ruling.
Russia's Military Collegium of the Supreme Court today sent the case for a second hearing by different military judges. The court said the first verdict did not take into account evidence provided by some witnesses and from the alleged organizer of the murder who initially pleaded guilty.