Thursday, 13 September 2007
A man has gone on trial in Moscow accused of killing at least 49 people.
The Russian media has dubbed him the "Bitsevsky Maniac" after the park in southern Moscow where most of the murders were carried out.
The accused man, Alexander Pichushkin, far from denying his crimes, claimed he actually killed many more people.
Many Russians would like to see him executed but, as Russia has suspended the use of death penalty, he faces instead a sentence of life in jail.
By his own admission Alexander Pichushkin is one of the world's most prolific killers.
The shop assistant from southern Moscow stands accused of carrying out a 14-year killing spree.
'Chessboard' murders
He is alleged to have lured his victims into the Bitsevsky forest on the outskirts of Moscow.
Police said he then got them drunk before bludgeoning them to death with a hammer.
He is charged with 49 murders, but Mr Pichushkin himself now claims he carried out as many as 60 killings.
In his flat police are reported to have found a chessboard.
Russian press reports say Mr Pichushkin was planning to kill one person for each of its 64 squares.
Given his long confession, it seems certain Mr Pichushkin will be found guilty.
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