(Reuters) – A U.S. soldier who was sentenced in June to just about 4 years in a Russian penal colony after being discovered responsible of stealing $113 from his girlfriend and making threats to kill her, misplaced his courtroom attraction towards the decision on Monday, RIA company reported.
Gordon Black, a 34-year-old U.S. employees sergeant, was detained on Might 2 in Russia’s far jap metropolis of Vladivostok after an argument along with his girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, whom he had met whereas in South Korea.
He pleaded not responsible to threatening to kill Vashchuk however admitted he was partially responsible of taking the cash, although out of necessity.
Black’s defence argued in its attraction that the unique verdict was unlawful and unfair, and requested for a brand new trial, RIA reported.
Based on Black’s defence lawyer, the decision didn’t depend on case supplies, ignored proof confirming Black’s innocence, and incorrectly interpreted his actions in the direction of the sufferer, RIA reported.
Nonetheless, Decide Irina Balashova of the Primorsky Regional Courtroom in Russia’s Far East dismissed his attraction. “Leave the verdict unchanged and dismiss the appeal,” stated Balashova, in keeping with RIA.
Black is amongst a gaggle of People held in Russia on a wide range of expenses. Final week, twin Russian-American citizen Ksenia Karelina was sentenced to 12 years in jail on Thursday after a Russian courtroom discovered her responsible of treason for donating $51.07 to a charity supporting Ukraine.
