RUSSIA: A RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR KILLING A CANADIAN WOMAN IN AN ALLEGED DRINK-DRIVING INCIDENT

Record ID: 648549

  • Title: RUSSIA: A RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR KILLING A CANADIAN WOMAN IN AN ALLEGED DRINK-DRIVING INCIDENT
  • Date: 12th March 2002
  • Summary: (W5) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 19, 2002) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS WALKING TO COURT 0.18 2. SV EXTERIOR OF COURT BUILDING 0.26 3. CU SIGN READING "TVERSKOY MUNICIPAL COURT" 0.30 4. MCU (English) ROD IRWIN, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO MOSCOW SAYING: " There was no question that this was a political issue in the sense that this was a diplomat of another country in Canada and this was a very unique process here a crime committed in Canada and a court case prosecuted here. But I'm convinced that once the judicial system began to operate it can operate as judicial systems should" 0.56 5. SV POLICE AND PROSECUTOR NEAR COURT DOOR 1.07 6. SV POLICE NEAR POLICE CAR 1.16 7. MCU (English) ANDREY PAVLOV, KNYAZEV'S LAWYER SAYING: " Of course I can say I disagree but my opinion means nothing for the court. But if i put some sentences in our appeal saying that the decision was not correct then maybe the number of years will be decreased" QUESTION: Do you think you could get a fair trial?/ ANDREY PAVLOV, KNYAZEV'S LAWYER "No comment" 1.43 8. SV OF PAVLOV TALKING TO JOURNALISTS 1.57 9. SV RELATIVE OF THE VICTIM WALKING AWAY 2.03 10. MCU (English) PHILIP DORE, HUSBAND OF CATHERINE DORE, THE CANADIAN SURVIVOR OF THE ACCIDENT, SAYING: " Throughout we've agreed we do not wish him ill in any way. This is a dreadful circumstance for all sorts of people and he is now going to be paying the price for his decision to drink and drive and we only hope that he will be able to take something away from this at the end of this entire process" 2.24 (W5) MOSCOW, RUSSIA ( MARCH 12, 2002), (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 11. SV ANDREY KNYAZEV IN LIGHT BEIGE RAINCOAT WALKING TO CAR/GETTING INTO CAR 2.51 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA3FNFKZG4MX6EZWFNJAYHADCW9
  • Story Text: A Russian diplomat has been found guilty and sentenced
    to four years in prison for killing a 50-year-old Canadian
    woman in an alleged drink-driving incident when he worked as a
    diplomat at the Russian embassy in Ottawa.



    A Moscow court on Tuesday (March 19) announced the
    final verdict for Andrey Knyazev, a mid-level political
    officer at the Russian embassy in Ottawa.

    The ex-diplomat received 4 years imprisonment for causing
    the death of 50-year-old Catherine Maclean as he drove his car
    back after a day of ice-fishing near Ottawa in January 2001.

    His car is said to have hit and killed Maclean and
    seriously injured her best friend, 56-year-old Catherine Dore,
    as the two women were enjoying a pavement stroll in an
    affluent Ottawa neighbourhood.

    Police at the scene of the accident in Ottawa said Knyazev
    had refused to take a breathalyser test and had been barely
    able to walk.

    The Canadian government had asked Russia to waive
    diplomatic immunity for Knyazev. Russia refused promising
    instead to prosecute Knyazev in Moscow.

    " There was no question that this was a political issue in
    the sense that this was a diplomat of another country in
    Canada and this was a very unique process here- a crime
    committed in Canada and a court case prosecuted here." said
    Canadian ambassador to Moscow." But I'm convinced that once
    the judicial system began to operate it can operate as
    judicial systems should ".

    The court has ruled that Knyazev was drunk when the accident
    occurred. During the trial the prosecutor accused Knyazev of
    several cases of drink driving and involvement in car
    accidents during the two years of his work as first secretary
    of the Russian embassy.

    Knayzev's lawyer Andrey Pavlov said he disagreed with the
    court's decision and plans to appeal of the verdict .

    "Of course I can say I disagree but my opinion means nothing
    for the court.

    But if i put some sentences in our appeal saying that the
    decision was not correct then maybe the number of years will
    be decreased" he said.

    Present at Tuesday's trial in Moscow were Catherine
    Dore's husband Philip and the Ottawa police officer who
    investigated the accident. Dore said he was glad the trial was
    over bu said he and his wife did not wish the Russian diplomat
    ill.

    " This is a dreadful circumstance for all sorts of people and
    he is now going to be paying the price for his decision to
    drink and drive and we only hope that he will be able to take
    something away from this at the end of this entire process" he
    said.

    Knyazev, who lost his job as a result of the scandal ,would
    now have to spend four years in exile.


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