Advised eyewitness to insist upon testimony
Before NA Deputy Hakob Hakobyan's trial began today, Judge Gagik Avetisyan released the appeal filed by eyewitness Hamlet Hovhannisyan in which he asked for another prosecution due to his stress and false testimonies yesterday.
Let us remind that yesterday the eyewitness had declared that the police kept him at the Malatia-Sebastia Police Headquarters for three days and got the testimonies that they wanted, yet he had not left his house on March 1 and had not received any money.
Attorney Melanya Arustamyan filed a challenge petition today and mentioned that there were facts that could arouse doubts about the objectivity of the presiding judge.
The eyewitness announced that he insists on his testimony given during the preliminary investigation.
But when attorney Melanya Arustamyan tried to remind him of episodes from his testimony, the eyewitness either said that he didn't remember or didn't wish to reply. He only said that Armen Farmanyan, who was killed on March 1, had given him money to participate in the rally and had told him that the money was from Hakob Hakobyan. Attorney Melanya Arustamyan asked if Armen Farmanyan or Hakob Hakobyan had told him to rob stores, show resistance to police or burn cars, the eyewitness said that they were simply told to participate in the rally. Hakob Hakobyan declared that he had seen the eyewitness near the car when he was being transferred from the court to the hospital.
Hakob Hakobyan advised the eyewitness to insist upon the testimony given during the preliminary investigation.
Melanya Arustamyan mentioned that the witness had given normal responses.
Prosecutions of eyewitnesses will continue on May 18 at 12:30 p.m.
