A prosecutor in the trial of three persons accused of killing the Mahmadov family asked Khatlon’s regional court on August 3 to sentence two defendants to life in prison and the third defendant to 30 years in prison.

A source within the Khatlon regional court says the prosecutor asked the court to sentence Mahmadghayur Khaibulloyev and Qiyomiddin Nasriddinov to live in prison and Nasriddinov’s wife Adolat Shermatova to 30 years in prison.  

Meanwhile, their defense lawyers asked for acquitting their clients.  

The source further added that  the court has not yet heard the last word of the defendants.  

It is to be noted that all three had previously retracted their previous statements, noting that those admissions had been obtained under torture.  

The 39-year-old resident of Jaihoun district Ahliddin Mahmadov and his three children aged 8, 13 and 14 years were killed on the night of June 12, 2021.  

Mahmadghayur Khaibulloyev, Qiyomiddin Nasriddinov and his wife Adolat Shermatova were arrested on suspicion of mitting that crime.

Criminal proceedings against Khaibulloyev and Nasriddinov have been instituted under the provisions of four articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 104 (4) – murder; Article 32 (3) – Article 104 (2) – attempted murder; Article 255 (2) arson; and Article 244 – theft.

As far as Adolat Shermatova is concerned, she faces charges murder, attempted murder and arson.