The trial of a grocery store shelf-stocker accused of trying to become the most prolific serial killer in post-Soviet Russia began Thursday with the man glaring from a cage and dismissing a defense lawyer while relatives of victims called for his death.
The accused, Aleksandr Pichushkin, 33, has been charged with 49 counts of murder, part of what the authorities describe as a macabre and sustained scheme to kill one person for every square on a chess board.
In a television interview after his arrest, Pichushkin spoke of killing as if it was both ordinary and required. “For me, a life without murder is like a life without food for you,” he said.
A reasonable candidate for the death penalty – wouldn’t you agree?
Be careful out there, Keith.
#0 “A reasonable candidate for the death penalty – wouldn’t you agree?”
No, I don’t support the death penalty. I just don’t want to lower myself to that level of morality. Just lock him up forever.
[edit: OT]
Sounds like a nice chap.
I don’t support the death penalty but this type of thing makes me get thoughtful about the whole thing.
Only after studying him for at least a year by a specialized psychiatrist.
So that they can compile a case study and figure out “at risk” white male candidates out there, ticking time bombs.
Then after that, the death penalty is only so that since he is of no more use to society, why burden society 100k$ per year for his incarceration.
How long is the average death row time in the US? Or does it vary from state to state?
> I just don’t want to lower myself
> to that level of morality. Just lock him up forever.
By locking him up forever, you have lowered yourself to that level of morality. You are essentially condemning him to a life of punishment. I find that no more moral than simply executing him and putting him and everyone else out of his misery.
#5 That is the best argument for the death penalty as I have ever read.
I plan to steal it and use it from now on.
No wonder the Russian’s write the best tragedies they are complete whack jobs when they lose it…
It’s Russia. He’s as good as dead. And considering how bad their prisons are, he’ll be getting off easy.
#1 – Bigby – Just lock him up forever.
You pay the bill?
I don’t believe in the death penalty, but cases like this always make me shakey in my belief.
#4…Mark Derail…this is in Russia…5.00 a day tops is what they spend to keep a person locked up. I don’t remember off hand if it’s Russia or China that charges the executed persons family for the bullets used to kill them.
The Russians are a lot more careful nowadays about prosecutions. They once executed the wrong man after accusing him of being the Rostov Ripper. The murders continued and finally Andre Chikatilo was captured after a brave sting operation conducted by female police dressed as his favorite targets (upper class looking women wearing furs).
I’m sure this time around they will make sure this IS the guy.
Considering that he has freely admitted to committing the murders, is tied to them by physical evidence – and knew things that no one but the murderer could possibly know – there is no doubt whatsoever. There is no chance of error. He did it.
It’s one thing, and generally a very good one, to respect the possibility of error embodied in the principle of presumption of innocence – but there are those times, and this is one of them, when permitting blind, slavish devotion to principle to override common sense is downright stupid.
True justice would dictate that, after the formality of his guilt being officially verified, that he then be immediately taken outside and shot.
“For me, a life without murder is like a life without food for you,” he said.
This guy is obviously no chess player. If he were, you could replace the word “murder” with “chess.”
Let’s see,
Cmon, he was probably teased as a child…
no, wait, his girlfriend recently left him…
Uhm, no I got it, Due to social injustice…
Crap, never mind, just fry his butt.
Better yet, Strip him naked, and turn him loose in the home town of one of his victims.
Don
Personally, I believe that we should not kill him, although I do support the death penalty. I’d rather play with his mind, I believe he was neglected as a child, and found pleasure in a game of chess. I think he’s a far more fascinating killer than what we deal with nowadays. If this is the future of murder, then strap up lads this is going to be a long century. Anyways, analyse him, and start messing with his brains, but becareful serial killers have a way of killing.