A MAN charged with the murder of British expat Jan Bennett denied at court yesterday that he was behind the brutal killing.
Ivan Nilolov (40), a grape picker, has been charged with the rape and murder of ex-Altinkum resident Jan Bennett in the village of Malomir, in the region of Yambol, Bulgaria, where she had recently settled with her disabled husband Nick.
Murder accused: Ivan Nikolov (Image: BTA)
Mrs Bennett went to walk her two dogs last Thursday (July 30) at 10pm, but never returned home. Her body was found in a small park the following day.
She had been raped, beaten and an attempt had been made to burn the body. Her body was found 200 metres from her home. An autopsy suggested she died from a blow to the back of the head with a blunt object.
Police gathered DNA evidence from the scene and, by Saturday, based on this and other information, arrested Nikolov, who lived in the village. He was charged on Monday and appeared in court yesterday (Tues Aug 3).
Nikolov has a criminal record which includes theft, drunk driving and driving without a licence between 2002 and 2012, serving prison terms of between four to 18 months. His most recent prison term ended in December 2012.
During the court appearance in Yambol, Nikolov handed over a four-page handwritten note to the judge explaining his movements on July 30-31
Nikolov stated categorically he was innocent, that he had not raped and killed Mrs Bennett, and did not even know her.
He added: “I have not committed this crime. The police came and I was taken to the police. They took my DNA without a lawyer. Only recently did I realize what I am accused of.”
At the beginning of the hearing, it became clear that the accused was taught to 6th grade and once released from prison at the end of 2012, he lived in Yambol. Recently, however, he moved to live in Malomir where worked in the vineyards.
Nikolov’s defence attorney, Anelia Dimitrova, said that Nikolov explained to investigators on the evening of July 30, Nikolov had gone home, turned on the TV and fell asleep, because he had to go to work in the vineyards from 5am, the next morning.
He confirmed to investigators that he had no witnesses to confirm his story as he lived alone.
Dimitrova suggested to the court that his client was “the easy piece to be tried” seemingly in reference to his criminal record.
Dimitrova, said that the only evidence against him was the DNA evidence. “Material found only in a matchbox and some short denim pants, with no evidence they are of his. They were at the scene, “said Dimitrova.
He was remanded in custody by Judge Pepa Chilikova, but an appeal against this is expected to be lodged within three days before the Court of Appeal in Burgas.