In Samarkand, a 58-year-old man who shot and killed his brother in a dispute over water was sentenced to 10 years in prison

In Samarqand, a 58-year-old man who shot and killed his brother in a dispute over water was sentenced to 10 years in prison

In the Narpay district of Samarqand region, a citizen engaged in fish farming shot and killed his brother due to a dispute over directing water into a pond. The court sentenced the defendant to 10 years of deprivation of liberty.

According to "Daryo", citing court documents, the defendant signed a contract with the forestry department in 2019 and established 2 fish ponds on an area of 2 hectares. His brother also had 5 ponds in the neighboring area. Over time, regular conflicts arose between the brothers.

On February 12 of this year, at around 06:30, another conflict occurred by the drainage ditch. While the deceased was diverting the ditch water into his own pond, the defendant brought out a 12-caliber IJ-18 hunting rifle from his living wagon and fired once at his brother's face. The victim died at the scene as a result of his injuries and heavy blood loss. After the incident, the defendant hid the weapon in his house and notified the prevention inspector.

In court, the defendant partially pleaded guilty, stating that his brother had repeatedly stolen fish and mung beans from his pond and had tried to puncture his pond. According to him, on that day, when his brother pulled him by the collar attempting to hit him with a hoe, the butt of the rifle hit the ground, and the gun went off accidentally.

The son of the deceased stated that his uncle had become nervous lately and suspected everyone of theft.

"My uncle had started to suspect everyone, saying they were taking his fish. Our conditions were much better than my uncle's, we had no need to steal his fish," the son of the deceased said in his court testimony.

Although the defendant claimed that the weapon went off accidentally, the forensic medical examination refuted this. According to the conclusion, it was determined that the shot was fired at the deceased from a distance of 50–70 centimeters to 1 meter. The expert stated that no injuries resulting from an attempt to defend himself were found on the body of the deceased, and that he died at the scene from acute external blood loss.

The preliminary investigation body had charged him under Article 97, Part 2, Clause "i" of the Criminal Code (intentional homicide with mercenary intent). However, since the mercenary factor was not confirmed during the court hearing, the judicial panel reclassified the murder under Article 97, Part 1 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to 10 years of deprivation of liberty.