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© Bulfoto
According to an expert report, Christian Nikolov was driving at 99 km / h during the collision, in which Milen Tsvetkov died on April 19.
I would like to express my condolences to the family of Milen Tsvetkov. I have been in custody for 7 months. This media attack has a crushing effect on my psyche. I am cooperating with the investigation and it will be the same in the future. I will not run, I will not hide, I will not harass the process. I know what awaits me and I plan to take responsibility. At this point, I need to be with my family. “
With these words, 22-year-old Christian Nikolov asked the Sofia City Court (SCC) to impose a lighter restraint measure on him and release him under house arrest, but with an electronic bracelet with which to control him. Nikolov appeared in court for the first time after being charged with deliberately causing the accident that killed journalist and television host Milen Tsvetkov on April 19.
The court panel chaired by Petar Stoitsev rejected his request, but the decision is not final and Nikolov can appeal on November 10.
Defense to the Prosecutor’s Office: We are not in a television format to gain rating
“A serious accusation has been presented to appease public discontent after the incident. We are not in a television format to win an audience. Unfortunately, it will be true that when the street enters the courtroom, the law goes out the window,” told a judge. Petar Stoitsev Nikolov’s lawyer – Lyubomir Takov.
“The only reason Christian is in custody is to serve the widely publicized concept of the indictment in this case. Many other defendants of much more socially dangerous acts have lighter measures,” argued the lawyer.
According to lawyer Takov, if the prosecution thought that Nikolov was in flight danger, they had the opportunity to impose a ban on him from leaving Bulgaria, but this has not been done in 7 months. “At first, Christian had difficulties of a mental nature helping the investigators,” said the attorney.
He stressed that after the initial impact, Nikolov cooperated. It was at his request that Georgi Ivanov, who is the son of MP GERB Lachezar Ivanov and traveled with Nikolov during the incident, appeared at the Sofia police to help.
Lawyer Takov also pointed out that the prosecutor’s office publishes information about the case every week, but did not provide significant details, which since the initial accusation that he was driving under the influence of 4 drugs, became 3.
The court: Irresponsible, frivolous, arrogant
According to the court, there is a real danger that he will commit a crime or escape if he is released with a lesser measure of restraint. “Extremely irresponsible, frivolous and arrogant” is the way he committed the crime, said Judge Petar Stoitsev. According to him, Nikolov allowed himself to drive a car after using an extremely strong drug cocktail and was aware that it was dangerous to his own life and health, as well as the people in his car and other road users.
In their reasons, the court noted that there is a danger of flight, as he faces severe punishment if convicted: 15 to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment, and this is a potential motive for Christian Nikolov to escape.
Prosecutor Ivan Kuchiev recalled that the investigation was over and that he would soon file an accusation with the Sofia Municipal Court. He noted that Nikolov and his defense attacked the prosecutor’s office with requests and demands, and the aim was to delay the process.
The state prosecutor’s office believes that there is a risk that he will commit another crime or escape if he is released. One of the arguments of the prosecution is that his family has economic opportunities with which he can be removed from Bulgaria.
“A ban on leaving the country has not been imposed because Nikolov is detained and it makes no sense. Such a ban only plays a role in legal attempts to leave the country. Even if we do impose it, it does not guarantee his participation in the trial,” he said the prosecutor Kuchiev.
Christian Nikolov has been detained under the most severe preventive detention measure since April, when the Sofia Municipal Court ordered his permanent detention. The serious incident became an occasion for GERB to demand legislative changes to increase the penalties for driving after using alcohol and drugs. Chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev made a similar appeal.
How the accident happened – read here
What the most serious accusation means and what can lead to: read here
What is known about the serious incident, the participants and the reaction of the institutions – here
Video images of the impact and the minutes after: here and here
See another video from the security cameras here
Read more about the arrests here.
How the jeep that crashed into the journalist’s car was bought, read here.
What penalties does the GERB offer for driving after consuming alcohol and drugs – read here
Christian Nikolov’s mother claims that she did not give him the jeep because he had another car. here
