Russia's Chessboard Killer - OzChess

**vagrantnomad** · 10-25-2007, 09:04 PM

Russia's chessboard killer convicted
Tied to 48 slayings, he boasted of more
October 25, 2007

BY BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOSCOW -- A man who said he wanted to record a killing for each of the 64 squares on a chessboard was found guilty Wednesday of murdering 48 people in Moscow.

A jury took less than three hours to convict Alexander Pichushkin of the slayings, most of which occurred over five years in a sprawling park. He also was found guilty of three attempted murders
Judge Vladimir Usov read the verdict for one hour, while 33-year-old Pichushkin, standing inside a reinforced glass cage, leaned against the wall and stared at the floor.

Prosecutors recommended the judge sentence Pichushkin to life in prison, with the first 15 years to be spent in isolation, given the convicted man's violent nature. A sentencing date has not been set.

Russia has imposed a moratorium on the death sentence but has not abolished it.

Most of Pichushkin's victims were killed in Bittsa Park, and he became known as the Bittsa Maniac.

Pichushkin boasted of killing 63 people -- one short of filling up a chessboard -- but prosecutors only were able to find evidence for 48 killings.

At the apartment where he shared a bedroom with his mother, police found his chessboard with numbers on its squares -- all the way up to 62. He boasted he had nearly reached the last square, No. 64, by the time police captured him.

Prosecutors said Pichushkin lured his victims -- many of them homeless -- to the park by promising them vodka if they would join him in mourning the death of his dog.

He killed 11 people in 2001, including six in one month, prosecutors said. He threw most of his victims into a sewage pit after they were drunk, and sometimes strangled or hit them in the head, prosecutors said.

Beginning in 2005, he hit his intoxicated victims multiple times in the head with a hammer, then stuck a bottle of vodka into their shattered skulls, prosecutors said. He also no longer tried to conceal the bodies.

Prosecutors said Monday that Pichushkin had admitted killing one of his last victims in February 2006 to demonstrate that he was still at-large after Russian newspapers reported that the Bittsa Maniac had been caught.

Pichushkin was arrested in June 2006 after a woman left a note at home saying she was going for a walk with him and later was found dead. Pichushkin said he was aware of the note but killed her anyway.

"I burned myself, so there's no need for the cops to take credit for catching me," he said during the trial. "I'm a professional."

**Iconoclast** · 10-25-2007, 09:47 PM

It is a pity, but true, that chess itself is effected by this. In the minds of the public it sounds like psychopathy is linked in some way to chess itself. Of course, it is not, but the inference is drawn albeit at a subconscious level.

Gendo Ikari · 10-27-2007, 04:19 PM

Reminds me of that film, Knight Moves.

Has anyone heard of similar serial murders being committed before this or is this a unique instance?

**Slav** · 10-29-2007, 11:33 AM

15 years in isolation does not sound like a way to cure madness. More like a way to cause madness.

Gendo Ikari · 10-29-2007, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Slav

15 years in isolation does not sound like a way to cure madness. More like a way to cause madness.

I doubt cure and rehabilitation are being considered by the prosecutors with that suggestion, rather the protection of other prisoners.

10-25-2007, 09:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
vagrantnomad Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: qld at the moment Posts: 270	Russia's Chessboard Killer Russia's chessboard killer convicted Tied to 48 slayings, he boasted of more October 25, 2007 BY BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA ASSOCIATED PRESS MOSCOW -- A man who said he wanted to record a killing for each of the 64 squares on a chessboard was found guilty Wednesday of murdering 48 people in Moscow. A jury took less than three hours to convict Alexander Pichushkin of the slayings, most of which occurred over five years in a sprawling park. He also was found guilty of three attempted murders Judge Vladimir Usov read the verdict for one hour, while 33-year-old Pichushkin, standing inside a reinforced glass cage, leaned against the wall and stared at the floor. Prosecutors recommended the judge sentence Pichushkin to life in prison, with the first 15 years to be spent in isolation, given the convicted man's violent nature. A sentencing date has not been set. Russia has imposed a moratorium on the death sentence but has not abolished it. Most of Pichushkin's victims were killed in Bittsa Park, and he became known as the Bittsa Maniac. Pichushkin boasted of killing 63 people -- one short of filling up a chessboard -- but prosecutors only were able to find evidence for 48 killings. At the apartment where he shared a bedroom with his mother, police found his chessboard with numbers on its squares -- all the way up to 62. He boasted he had nearly reached the last square, No. 64, by the time police captured him. Prosecutors said Pichushkin lured his victims -- many of them homeless -- to the park by promising them vodka if they would join him in mourning the death of his dog. He killed 11 people in 2001, including six in one month, prosecutors said. He threw most of his victims into a sewage pit after they were drunk, and sometimes strangled or hit them in the head, prosecutors said. Beginning in 2005, he hit his intoxicated victims multiple times in the head with a hammer, then stuck a bottle of vodka into their shattered skulls, prosecutors said. He also no longer tried to conceal the bodies. Prosecutors said Monday that Pichushkin had admitted killing one of his last victims in February 2006 to demonstrate that he was still at-large after Russian newspapers reported that the Bittsa Maniac had been caught. Pichushkin was arrested in June 2006 after a woman left a note at home saying she was going for a walk with him and later was found dead. Pichushkin said he was aware of the note but killed her anyway. "I burned myself, so there's no need for the cops to take credit for catching me," he said during the trial. "I'm a professional."

10-25-2007, 09:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Iconoclast Immoderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wollongong NSW Posts: 1,006	It is a pity, but true, that chess itself is effected by this. In the minds of the public it sounds like psychopathy is linked in some way to chess itself. Of course, it is not, but the inference is drawn albeit at a subconscious level. __________________ The individual is hopeless without the group. The group is hopeless without its individuals.

10-29-2007, 11:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Slav Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 28	15 years in isolation does not sound like a way to cure madness. More like a way to cause madness. __________________ Touch that Q-pawn at your own risk!

10-29-2007, 01:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gendo Ikari Director Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 100	Originally Posted by Slav 15 years in isolation does not sound like a way to cure madness. More like a way to cause madness. I doubt cure and rehabilitation are being considered by the prosecutors with that suggestion, rather the protection of other prisoners.

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10-27-2007, 04:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gendo Ikari Director Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 100	Reminds me of that film, Knight Moves. Has anyone heard of similar serial murders being committed before this or is this a unique instance?