Russia’s ‘Chessboard Killer’ Appears In Court For Trial

by Jason Green
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

One of Russia’s most notorious confessed killers was brought to trial on Friday.  Alexander Pichushkin, also known as “the chessboard killer” stands accused of killing 49 people, though he has confessed to killing at least 62 in the last fifteen years.   

His nickname, “the chessboard killer,” is derived from coins that were found on a chessboard at his home when he was arrested in June, 2006.  According to Pichushkin, he placed coins on individual squares to count his victims.  On the date of his arrest, he had filled 63 of the squares.   

Most of his victims were killed in Moscow’s Bittsevsky Park, an area near a shop where Pichushkin was known to have been employed.  During the last 15 years, Pichushkin lured them into the park with offers to drink vodka with him while he lamented over the death of his dead dog.  In truth, he never had a dog, but it was a clever ruse to get his victims into the park.  Once alone with them in wooded areas, and often while they were intoxicated, he killed them by shoving them into sewage pits or by delivering hammer blows to their heads.

During the proceeding on Friday, prosecutors spent several hours detailing each of Pichushkin’s crimes for the court.  Although he freely admitted his guilt in a televised confession, Pichushkin declined to enter a guilty plea.  The Associated Press reports that Pichushkin may be holding out on his plea in the hopes of receiving a transfer to a prison that offers inmates better conditions. 

Pichushkin also requested that he receive a jury trial, which is not often done in Russia.

Pichushkin’s crimes are comparable to the late Andrei Chkatilo, who was executed in 1994 for killing over 52 people.  If he is convicted, he will likely receive a sentence of life imprisonment. 

For more information please see:

AP – Accused killer used vodka, sob story to lure 62 victims – 14 September 2007.

Reuters – Russia’s “chessboard” serial killer goes on trial – 14 September 2007

BBC – Russian ‘chessboard killer’ on trial – 13 September 2007