On April 17, the Specialized Interdistrict Court in Astana proceeded with the hearing of Kuandyk Bishimbayev's criminal case. Judge Aizhan Kulbayeva made an announcement regarding the inclusion of a Russian specialist's conclusion in the case materials.
The judge pointed out the discrepancies between the specialists' findings on Saltanat Nukenova's cause of death and the forensic examination results. The subdural hematoma mentioned was considered insignificant and unrelated to Nukenova's fatal cranial injury.
Consequently, the court decided to dismiss the defense's request to introduce the specialist's report as evidence, deeming it inadmissible. The prosecution's request, on the other hand, was accepted, leading to the exclusion of the specialist's report dated March 7, 2024, from the evidence.
During the 11th session, the court reviewed the conclusions of Moscow specialists previously incorporated into the case materials. The session was adjourned to deliberate on the prosecution's plea to exclude this report as evidence.
Kuandyk Bishimbayev, a former Minister of National Economy, was apprehended on November 9, 2023, under suspicion of his wife's murder at a restaurant in Bau. The investigation concluded on January 8, 2024, with additional charges of torture being added to the murder allegations.
Witnesses, including an emergency doctor and a patrol officer, testified in court on April 8. Another defendant, Bakhytzhan Bayzhanov, requested to be separated from his brother during the trial on April 3, citing pressure from Bishimbayev.
On April 4, the victim's lawyer, Zhanna Urazbakova, disclosed the cause of Saltanat Nukenova's death. On April 1, Kuandyk Bishimbayev addressed the court, seeking forgiveness from Nukenova's family while maintaining his innocence in her deliberate killing.
