Instead of the circumstances in which the chief of the Ruse police was beaten becoming known, the questions surrounding the case are increasing. Over the weekend, the court is considering the measures to prevent the detainees from being detained, and they and their relatives told journalists that the police chief and his friend were intoxicated, and the first blow came from them, writes bTV.
„One man started to hit me through the car window and from there the fight started. The first blow was inflicted by them, then we got out of the car," said one of the detainees, 18-year-old Kiril Gochev, in the courtroom.
According to Kiril, the first blow was inflicted by the policeman's companion, and then he returned the blow.
„I was hit in the head, when I got out I was pushed and hit my head on the car and I have no memory of the fight itself. I didn't kick anyone, I hit him with my right hand, which caused the man to fall. I went to open my door, being careful not to hit him, and by the time I got out the man had already stood up from the ground and they pushed me. I hit my head on the frame of the car and I have a scar on my head," said 18-year-old Kiril Gochev.
On Saturday, the Ruse District Court ruled a measure of "detention in custody" for the four detainees for the beating of Ruse Police Chief Nikolay Kozhuharov. According to the prosecution, Kiril Gochev was driving at excessive speed. However, he denied it.
"Just because of the noise, the assumption that I was driving at high speed, I deny it. I was driving at a maximum of 40 km/h. The policeman's companion stood in front of the car and I stopped. I didn't ask him anything. I didn't know he was a policeman. The policeman introduced himself after everything was over. After the incident itself was over, the policeman took out his badge and introduced himself“, said the young man.
In the courtroom, it also became clear that Kiril Gochev had the main influence and importance in the beating. When asked why he was only charged with hooliganism, the prosecutor in the case Ivo Georgiev said:
„The charges are based on the evidence collected during the investigation. The prosecutor's office believes that we have established this at this time. This is the evidence in the case, this is what we have assessed“.
On Friday, we contacted both the Ministry of Interior and the prosecutor's office with an invitation to appear on the show “This Morning“, but they refused us on the grounds that there is a pre-trial proceeding and the investigation is ongoing.