Donetsk, Jun 29 — DAN. An appeal against the death sentence for British mercenary Aiden Aslin might be lodged later this week, lawyer Pavel Kosovan told the Donetsk News Agency on Wednesday.
“A cassation appeal has not been lodged yet; I believe it will happen at the end of this week or next week, ” Kosovan said. “He disagrees with the verdict and asked to appeal.”
“At first, they wanted (to appeal) on their own, but now they seem to have changed their mind, that is they’ve adopted a wait and see attitude, he said adding that he meant the defendant and his mother. ‘Perhaps, they’re counting on the British Embassy or the Foreign Office, but they doing nothing, ’ the lawyer said.
Details of the defense’s appeal have not been disclosed. The defendant’s lawyer can appeal within a month from the date of verdict reading while the defendant can appeal within a month after receiving a copy of the verdict.
On June 9, the DPR Supreme Court Appeals Chamber sentenced to death three foreign mercenaries who had fought on the side of Ukraine. British nationals Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin and Moroccan citizen Saadun Brahim served with the Ukrainian army’s 36th Separate Marine Brigade and participated in fighting in Donbass against the DPR, for which they received remuneration. They were charged under three articles of the DPR Criminal Code: coup or retention of power by force, mercenarism and training for terrorist activity. The above crimes were committed by a group of persons.
Pinner’s lawyer lodged an appeal on June 28. A case is heard under under cassational procedure within two months from the date of sending the case to appellate court. The case goes to appellate court after all the procedural requirements have been met in accordance with the DPR law.*jk