Top News
July 27, 2009
http://www.topnews.in/trial-russian-man-accused-killing-two-priests-opens-2194579
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Moscow - A trial of a Russian man accused of killing a German Catholic priest and his Jesuit colleague appeared in a Moscow court Monday, nine months after the double murder.The hearing began with clarification of procedural matters related to the case against the unemployed man who has a previous conviction, city court officials told the German Press Agency dpa.
The defendant is alleged to have killed Ecuador-born Father Victor Betancourt, 42, in a Jesuit residence after the priest allegedly made sexual advances towards him, according to testimony by investigators.
He is alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time.
To conceal the crime, the man allegedly later returned and killed Otto Messmer, 47. The victims belonged to Renovabis, a German Catholic charitable organization for Eastern and Central Europe. (dpa)
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