“I think the sentence is fair”: Lawyer comments on Semerdzhiev’s sentence – Bulgaria

“It is a fact that there is a decision of the Sofia Court of Appeal, which confirms the original sentence of the Sofia City Court – both in the criminal and the civil part, according to the compensations awarded to the family of the deceased Harriet. Of course, this decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Cassation – something I think the colleagues defending Semerdzhiev will do. I believe that the sentence is fair, but these 20 years or BGN 700-800,000 compensation will not bring Harriet back to her family”.

He stated this on the air NOVA Plamen Dimitrov, lawyer for the family of the girl killed in the accident on Cherni Vrah Blvd. in July 2022.

AThe Court of Appeal in Sofia confirmed the 20-year sentence of Georgi Semerdzhiev. This was announced by the institution. In April of last year, he received a 20-year prison sentence from a city court for the crash on Cherni Vrah Blvd., which killed two young women in July 2022.

So far, it has been established in the case that Semerdzhiev drove at 166 km/h after using narcotic substances. The court also affirmed the conviction on the charges of running a red light, driving with a false license plate and false license plates, and possession of drugs in the car.

The appellate court also confirms the compensation awarded to the relatives of the deceased for a total of BGN 700,000, as well as the costs of the case.

At the second instance: 20 years in prison for Semerdzhiev

The decision of the SAC is subject to appeal and protest before the Supreme Court of Cassation.

“A second version of what happened was checked before the second instance. And it was discredited. That is why it must be rejected. I hope that the defendant will not present a third version to the Supreme Court of Cassation”, the prosecutor in the case indicated about a month ago in his pleading Vladislav Vladimirov.

According to him, Semerdzhiev’s theory that he was kidnapped and drugged, as well as that he was not driving the car on the night of the accident, was rejected long ago.

The court is sitting in the case against Georgi Semerdzhiev for beating with a machete

Semerdzhiev’s initial version, immediately after his arrest, was that he was kidnapped, and his second version, after the appeal of the city court sentence, was that he was not driving the car on the night of the accident.

Additional examinations rejected the second version of the defendant. All the evidence indicates that Semerdzhiev used drugs on the day of the incident, the prosecutor’s office said.

According to the state prosecution, the effect of methamphetamine is like a fall of all inhibitions.

Sarafov demanded that the prosecutor, who passed by the scene of the accident with Semerdzhiev, be disciplinary dismissed

It has been proven that it was Semerdzhiev who drove the jeep. The City Court has rightly increased the penalty for the cynical way in which two girls died. Therefore, the penalty should not be reduced. With such a sentence, I hope to achieve a disciplinary effect both on the defendant and on society, the state prosecution pointed out.

The parents of the dead girls and their lawyers requested the same from the appeals court.

The defense was of the opinion that Semerdzhiev was not driving the jeep that crashed. The motives of the city court were defined as a literary narrative by Semerdzhiev’s lawyer – Miroslav Hristov. According to him, some of the statements in the judgment of the first instance are supported by evidence.

Semerdzhiev was convicted of stealing gasoline

Hristov requested that the case be sent back to gather more evidence, as according to him the prosecution did not gather everything necessary for the trial.

In his last word, Semerdzhiev also requested the return of the case to collect more evidence.

Meanwhile, the Sofia District Court (SDC) sentenced Georgi Semerdzhiev to two years in prison, under an initial strict regime, for using a false document to drive a motor vehicle (MPS). Semerdzhiev will have to pay for wages and expenses in the court case.

According to the judges in the case, through the collected evidence, as well as from the questioning of the witnesses, it was established beyond doubt that on February 14, 2022 in Sofia, Semerdzhiev used a false official document for driving a motor vehicle, which was given the appearance of being issued in Switzerland.

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