School girl's slaying in Yarkul develops fresh details
Fresh Perspective:
A Schoolmate's Testimony Raises Doubts in Natasha Matyukhina's Case
In the current trial over the 2010 killing of schoolgirl Natasha Matyukhina in Novosibirsk, former police officers Kudyravtsev and Bartolomei maintain their innocence. News outlet "KP - Novosibirsk" keeps the public updated on the case's developments.
Tragedy struck on March 2nd when Natasha disappeared while making her way home from a disco. Investigators report that she was struck by a white Volga carrying police officers and a tipsy schoolmate. Initially, the witness claimed she hadn't left the vehicle but heard someone being hit. However, she later confessed to her stepfather that she was in the car during the incident, only to recant her statement during the 2023 trial.
- During the trial, the witness apologized to the defendants, explaining that she didn't understand why she told her stepfather she was in the car when the girl was hit. She attributed it to being intoxicated and stated the following morning that she lied about the car being involved. Other witnesses testified that the rumors about the police's involvement in Natasha Matyukhina's disappearance originated from this schoolmate - as reported by Bartolomei's lawyer in court.
The ex-law enforcement officers also presented evidence of their innocence in the courtroom. According to their lawyers, Bartolomei was at his workplace in the Ust-Tarkha police station that evening, which was confirmed by the duty officer. The lawyers provided phone call records to support their argument.
- On March 2nd, Bartolomei received a call from a relative requesting him to pick up his mother-in-law in the village of Yarkul-Matyushkino, approximately 60 km from Yarkul. He informed the duty officer, after which mobile signal was lost. After dropping off his mother-in-law, he returned to Ust-Tarkha, stopped at a gas station, and immediately contacted the duty officer to report his return. He made several calls, sent messages, and spent the night at home with his family. The following morning, the duty officer called him about a stolen tractor in the village of Zelenaya Roshcha, and he went there with an operational group, - Bartolomei's lawyer reported.
Maxim Kudryavtsev's lawyers claim he had an alibi on the day Natasha went missing. He was in the village of Oktyabrsky, more than 100 km away from Yarkov. His former police colleague corroborated this in court. The hair found in the trunk of a white Volga, thought to have been used to hit the girl, belongs to an animal.
A Fellow Schoolgirl Offers Her Recollection of the Night
Testimony from Natasha's friend sheds light on the night of the incident. At 11 PM, the two friends ventured out onto the street, headed for the city center, but turned back before reaching the school. They saw a group of four to five guys hanging out near a store, including one they knew. One of the guys in the group reportedly had romantic feelings for Natasha. However, Natasha was unaware that her friend was involved with this individual. If the hit-and-run had taken place, it would have been at 11:25 PM. Natasha still had a few meters left to go before reaching home. According to Natasha's friend, the way home was quiet, and there were no cars in sight.
Both Yevgeny Bartolomei and Maxim Kudryavtsev stood by their lawyers' arguments, offering no additional comments.
Police under Suspicion for Killing a Siberian Resident
- The case of Natasha Matyukhina's killing has generated significant interest in the realm of general-news and politics, with the public closely following the trial's progress via news outlet "KP - Novosibirsk."
- The schoolmate who initially claimed to have been in a car involved in the hit-and-run incident involving Natasha Matyukhina later recanted her statement, attributing it to intoxication and stating that she lied about the car being involved, a fact that further stirred the crime-and-justice discussions surrounding the case.
