Judge-coordinator for interaction with the media Almа Esymova explained at a press conference after the court hearing on May 13 why Kuandyk Bishimbayev did not receive a life sentence.
The judge stated that the verdict on Bishimbayev's case was reached collectively, with the decision made by a panel of jurors - 10 individuals and one judge. Each of them had an equal vote.
"In terms of the punishment. A life sentence could only be imposed with a unanimous decision, requiring all 11 individuals to vote in favor. Obviously, since a life sentence was not imposed, a unanimous decision was not reached in the deliberation room," answered Almа Esymova.
Additionally, after the court session, prosecutor Aizhan Aymaganova stated that 24 years is the maximum possible punishment. Prosecutors requested 20 years under the charge of "Murder" and seven years under the charge of "Torture".
"Based on the practice of the last five years, life imprisonment has not been imposed at all by the court with the participation of jurors in cases of this nature," Aymaganova reported.
Earlier in court, the verdict was announced in the case of the murder of Saltanat Nukenova: Kuandyk Bishimbayev was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment. The father of the deceased, Amangelde Nukenov, commented on the verdict in the court corridors on May 13.
