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Jury Convicts Chessboard Killer

Russia's Alexander Pichushkin claims to have killed 61

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 24, 2007 1:42 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A Russian jury today convicted the so-called Chessboard Killer, who terrorized a Moscow park for 14 years, on 48 counts of murder. Alexander Pichushkin claims to have killed 61, placing a coin on a chessboard square for each victim. But although many would like to see the country's most infamous serial killer put to death, the BBC reports, Russia has suspended capital punishment.

Although Pichushkin said he orginally meant to fill only the 64-square chessboard, he later claimed he would have gone on killing indefinitely had he not been caught last year. He mostly drowned or bludgeoned elderly men who drank with him at Moscow's Bittsa Park, though he did kill three women. He’ll be sentenced later this week.

RUSSIA-CRIME-MURDER-PICHUSHKIN
RUSSIA-CRIME-MURDER-PICHUSHKIN   (Getty Images)
Alexander Pichushkin is escorted into a court room in Moscow on Monday, Aug. 13, 2007. Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing 49 people in a Moscow park over nearly 15 years, will face a jury trial next month, a court ruled Monday. After his arrest last year, Alexander Pichushkin claimed that...
Alexander Pichushkin is escorted into a court room in Moscow on Monday, Aug. 13, 2007. Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing 49 people in a Moscow park over nearly 15 years, will face a jury trial...   (Associated Press)
Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing dozens of people, looks on from behind a glass security cage during the first day of his trial in Moscow, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. After his arrest last year, Alexander Pichushkin claimed that he had killed more than 60 people in a Moscow park over...
Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing dozens of people, looks on from behind a glass security cage during the first day of his trial in Moscow, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. After his arrest last year,...   (Associated Press)
Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing dozens of people, looks on from behind a glass security cage during the first day of his trial in Moscow, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. After his arrest last year, Alexander Pichushkin claimed that he had killed more than 60 people in a Moscow park over...
Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing dozens of people, looks on from behind a glass security cage during the first day of his trial in Moscow, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. After his arrest last year,...   (Associated Press)
Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing dozens of people, looks on from behind a glass security cage during the first day of his trial in Moscow, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. After his arrest last year, Alexander Pichushkin claimed that he had killed more than 60 people in a Moscow park over...
Alexander Pichushkin, accused of killing dozens of people, looks on from behind a glass security cage during the first day of his trial in Moscow, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007. After his arrest last year,...   (Associated Press)
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Russia • capital punishment • conviction • Alexander Pichushkin • Chessboard Killer

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