Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Moscow (Agenzia Fides) – On August 25, in Moscow, the sentence was finally issued for the murderer of two Jesuits: Fr. Victor Betancourt and Fr. Otto Messmer, who were killed between October 27-28 in their residence in Moscow. Shortly following the discovery of the bodies, the Russian press released the news of the arrest of the assassin, a psychopath who had already been arrested on previous occasions (see Fides 31/10/2008;21/11/2008) and who had confessed to the double crime.
According to information released to Agenzia Fides from the Jesuit Curia Generalis Press Office, Michail Orekhov has been condemned to 14 years in prison for the murder of Fr. Victor, while he has been cleared of that of Fr. Messmer, who upon his return from a trip oversees discovered the body of Fr. Victor. The accused, having confessed to the two crimes in an initial investigation, during the court process changed his story and affirmed that the double murder was carried out by someone else, unknown to him. According to Russian judicial law, the process took place in front of a popular jury.
In a press release, the Jesuits of the Russian Region wrote that “justice was carried out in a serious and professional manner and has offered both sides the opportunity to express their opinions, ask questions, and present their evidence. The ambiguous versions of the accused in reference to his motives and circumstances of the death of Fr. Victor Betancourt have been adequately evaluated by the jury. Yet, the fact that the jurors did not recognize the guilt of Michail Orekhov in the murder of Fr. Otto Messmer could give the impression that the evidence collected during the process have not been sufficiently convincing. Therefore, the doubt remains as to what evidence was gathered and the fact that the prosecuted admitted guilt in the preliminary investigation.”
The note from the Jesuit Curia Generalis Press Office says that the Jesuits of the Russian Region, as well as those throughout the world, are profoundly disappointed at the verdict and are convinced that justice has not been met in the murder of Fr. Otto. Along with their legal assistants, therefore, they are contemplating possible means for reaching a greater clarity in the case. The Jesuits of the Russian Region are also grateful to all those who support them in the search for justice and have shown their participation. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2009)
