A university professor accused of beheading his 24-year-old doctoral student and lover said he plans to write a book about her alleged murder.
Well-known Russian military historian Oleg Sokolov, 63, confessed to stabbing and dismembering Anastasia Yeschenko before disposing of her body parts in a river.
The Napoleon expert, now in custody, said the couple were due to marry the following year, but he killed her and destroyed his own life “in a few seconds” of madness.
“I realize that I have committed something cruel and deserve the most severe punishment possible,” he said in a confession to the Moscow newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.
He also admitted to attempting suicide when detectives escorted him to his luxury apartment to reenact a crime.
“They took me there and I was overwhelmed again,” he said.
“I could remember everything as if it were repeating itself.”
Sokolov, who was stopped by a police officer from ending his life, said he now plans to earn money in prison by writing a book about how he killed the woman he claims he still loves.
“It will be an autobiography about life and love,” he said.
“I will write about everything I have done (in my life) and how I crossed it all off in a few seconds.”
“I don’t exist”
He shocked his guards by demanding books into his cell, which he shares with an accused sex offender.
Through his lawyer, he denied the widespread theory that he had stabbed her in her sleep.
“I don’t care what is said about me. It doesn’t matter,” he said.
“I killed her and myself. I don’t exist.”
The defendant said his “cherished memory” of his murdered lover was “the most important thing” he had now.
“We wanted to get married and were planning the wedding,” he said.
“In over five years (of relationship) I have not raised a hand against her. Even scandals between us were rare.”
The professor faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Sokolov claims he murdered his lover while stressed over plagiarism charges brought against him by another Napoleon expert, Yevgeny Ponasenko.
He reportedly won that case, but lost to Mr Ponasenko in another lawsuit alleging he had personally attacked his rival.
“Total control”
He had previously told police that Mrs Yeschenko was jealous because he was spending time with his children from his previous marriage.
His victim’s mother, Galina Yeschenko, a 49-year-old police lieutenant colonel, said her daughter was killed because she told Sokolov she wanted to leave him.
“She was just fed up with his total control,” she said.
Sokolov said he intended to personally apologize to Ms Yeschenko’s parents.
“I understand that I cannot change anything with words,” he said. “I want to apologize personally at every opportunity.”
Australscope
Do you have a story tip? Email: [email protected].
Follow us on on facebook., Instagram And Þjórsárdalur and download the Yahoo News app from the AppStore or Google Play.
