18-year-old Nikola Burgazliev, who killed five people with an ATV in Sunny Beach, was driving under the influence of drugs. This is shown by the results of the toxicological examination, bTV reported.
Traces of marijuana were found in his samples, which, according to the prosecutor's office, is a prerequisite for charging him with an act committed with possible intent.
The results of the examination became clear yesterday. The prosecutor's office stated that the conclusions are categorical.
Burgazliev is currently charged with causing moderate bodily harm to more than one person. However, it is yet to be requalified.
An interesting fact is that according to official data, the field test conducted after Burgazliev's incident was negative. However, lawyers for the victim's family claim that they had information that the result had been changed. They also reported this to the Minister of the Interior, who ordered a repeated internal examination.
Traces of marijuana were found in the blood and urine of the accused Burgazliev.
“The expert examination does not deal with conventions. It is categorical about the presence of the narcotic substance in question or its active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol“, said Georgi Chinev - administrative head of the OP – Burgas.
The lawyers of the victims' family explained that shortly after the incident they received information that the first field drug test, which was done on Burgazliev, gave a positive result.
„The same test was covered up by the investigation“, said Nikolay Dimitrov – lawyer of the victims' family.
According to official data, the field test was negative? That is, are you claiming that it was done a second time?
Adv. Dimitrov: That's exactly how the first one was covered up… we know this from an eyewitness.
They sent the information to the Minister of the Interior hours after the incident. And they requested an internal check. Including the family ties of the accused, whose parents worked in the Ministry of the Interior. The check is already underway.
And according to the prosecutor's office – the presence of drugs can change the charge.
“It gives us a basis to consider requalifying the act as intentional. This means that there is already a possibility of a life sentence. He used drugs. He knew he was going into oncoming traffic and he did it. He increased his speed. He drove through a crowd. All of this is intentional“, said Georgi Chinev.
The defendant's lawyer stated that they still have the legal option of retesting in another laboratory. And explained that immediately after the results came out, she visited the detainee. He was categorical that he had not used marijuana. Other key expert reports are also awaited in the case.
“A video technical expert report has been appointed, which will provide a visual answer to the impact“, said Marian Marinov - National Investigation Service.
An auto technical expert report must answer the question - was the ATV in working order?