The Moscow City Court has completed preliminary hearings into the case of a former police officer, who killed two people in late April, and will begin to examine the case later on Monday.
Denis Yevsyukov, who then was a police major, took a taxi to the Ostrov supermarket in southern Moscow shortly after midnight on April 27, where he shot the driver dead, before walking into a store and wounding seven people, one of which later died.
He also attempted to kill four police officers who tried to detain him.
During the preliminary hearings, which were held on December 23, Yevsyukov requested the court to appoint three professional judges to hear his case. The court has also ruled to extend his custody until June 9, 2010.
On Monday a prosecutor is expected to read the indictment, and Yevsyukov is to make a plea. He is charged with murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of a weapon.
Some 46 people are witnesses in the case, while some 28 people are listed as the injured party.
Igor Trunov, a lawyer representing two victims of the shooting, said the defendant was "brazen, adequate and absolutely sane" during the preliminary hearings. According to the lawyer, it indicates that he was likely to clarify the motives behind the deadly shooting during Monday's hearings.
A psychological examination ruled that Yevsyukov was completely sane, had been aware of his actions and was competent to stand trial.
The father of one of his victims, taxi driver Sergei Yevteyev, said the former police officer was likely to plea not guilty on Monday.
"He would not admit anything... and he would not apologize," Yury Yevteyev said.
The incident prompted the dismissals of a number of top police officials. The government has pledged checks of officers and other measures to improve police discipline. The shooting spurred calls for police reform.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed last Thursday a decree to streamline the law enforcement structure, in particular ordering staff cuts and instituting the rotation of senior personnel at the Interior Ministry.
MOSCOW, December 28 (RIA Novosti)
