THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The North Goa Sessions Court has framed murder and wrongful restraint charges against Russian national Alexie Leonov, clearing the way for his trial in the alleged killing of two Russian women earlier this year.
Leonov, a fire display performer, will now face trial for charges under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 126(2) (wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, for the deaths of Elena Vaneeva (37) and Elena Kasthanova (37).
The prosecution stated that evidence collected during the investigation, including witness statements, recoveries, medical evidence, and the disclosure panchanama established a prima facie case against the accused. On the other hand, the defence urged the court to pass appropriate orders after considering the material on record.
Police, in their chargesheet, alleged Leonov first killed Vaneeva, a bubble performer and artist, at her rented accommodation in Morjim by slitting her throat with a sharp weapon. The following day, he allegedly restrained Kasthanova, a go-go dancer and wedding usher, by tying her hands before slitting her throat at her rented room in Arambol.
The police had initially attributed the killings to a monetary dispute. During interrogation, however, Leonov allegedly claimed he was in relationships with both women and was living with them. Police said he claimed he killed Vaneeva over a financial dispute and suspected Kasthanova of being involved with another man. Although Leonov also allegedly claimed responsibility for killing several other women, police said their investigation has linked him only to these two murders.
The chargesheet stated that Leonov spent nearly the entire day of January 14 at Vaneeva's residence, where he had gone to help shift belongings. Before her death, Vaneeva reportedly informed a friend over the phone that Leonov was threatening her and refusing to leave. Her body was discovered in the bathroom on January 16, with a knife found on her chest.
A key prosecution witness, Elena Loginovich, told the investigating team she saw Kasthanova lying in a pool of blood inside her room on January 15 while Leonov stood over her body. The chargesheet also alleged that Leonov assaulted a male friend of Kasthanova with a metal object on the morning of January 15, hours before her body was found.
