This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6992463.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Russian 'serial killer' on trial Russian 'serial killer' on trial
(about 6 hours later)
A man has gone on trial in Moscow accused of killing at least 49 people.A man has gone on trial in Moscow accused of killing at least 49 people.
The Russian media has dubbed him the "Bitsevsky Maniac" after the park in southern Moscow where most of the murders were carried out.The Russian media has dubbed him the "Bitsevsky Maniac" after the park in southern Moscow where most of the murders were carried out.
The accused man, Alexander Pichushkin, far from denying his crimes, claimed he actually killed many more people. The accused man, 33-year-old shop assistant Alexander Pichushkin, sat in a glass cage in court.
Far from denying his crimes, he claims he actually killed 61 people. Many of the victims were elderly men who got drunk with him, investigators say.
He is accused of a 14-year killing spree in southern Moscow, which began in 1992. He was arrested in June 2006.
The victims were drowned in a sewer or bludgeoned to death with a hammer, investigators say.
Many Russians would like to see him executed but, as Russia has suspended the use of death penalty, he faces instead a sentence of life in jail.Many Russians would like to see him executed but, as Russia has suspended the use of death penalty, he faces instead a sentence of life in jail.
By his own admission Alexander Pichushkin is one of the world's most prolific killers. Russian press reports say Mr Pichushkin was planning to kill one person for each of the 64 squares on a chessboard.
The shop assistant from southern Moscow stands accused of carrying out a 14-year killing spree. Given his long confession, it seems certain Mr Pichushkin will be found guilty, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Moscow.
'Chessboard' murders Friends and relatives of some of the victims were in court for his appearance on Thursday.
He is alleged to have lured his victims into the Bitsevsky forest on the outskirts of Moscow. "I am ready to tear him into pieces," said Nadezhda, a victim's sister, quoted by Reuters news agency. "How is it possible even to think of releasing such people?"
Police said he then got them drunk before bludgeoning them to death with a hammer. Before the Pichushkin case came to light, Russia's most notorious serial killer this century was Andrei Chikatilo, who killed 53 women and children. He was convicted and executed in 1994.
He is charged with 49 murders, but Mr Pichushkin himself now claims he carried out as many as 60 killings.
In his flat police are reported to have found a chessboard.
Russian press reports say Mr Pichushkin was planning to kill one person for each of its 64 squares.
Given his long confession, it seems certain Mr Pichushkin will be found guilty.