The killer of the beautiful ex-daughter-in-law of a billionaire has been jailed for 25 years after a court heard how he slit her throat after posing as a buyer for her luxury SUV.
Ekaterina Karas poses in undated photo. She was killed by a man who wanted to steal her expensive SUV in Samara, Russia. Note: Private photo taken from local media.(Newsflash/NX)
Victim Ekaterina Karas, 34, was brutally stabbed and tossed from her Toyota Land Cruiser by accused Amirkhamza Giesdzhonzoda in Samara, Russia, where she bled to death in the street.
Giesdzhonzoda, from Kazan, had pretended to be a buyer for Ekaterina's car after replying to an advert, the Samara Regional Court was told.
But after spending days gaining her trust, prosecutors told how he slashed her throat while she thought they were on their way to a bank to seal the deal and transfer money.
Ekaterina tumbled out onto the road where she bled to death, police told the court.
Witnesses told how Giesdzhonzoda climbed into the driver's seat and sped off abandoning the Toyota a few streets away.
One witness, Ksenia Fomina, told the court: "I left work with my colleague in the evening, we work until 6 pm.
"We were walking down the street and heard a sound like tyres screeching somewhere behind us.
Ekaterina Karas poses in undated photo. She was killed by a man who wanted to steal her expensive SUV in Samara, Russia. Note: Private photo taken from social media.(NF/newsX)
"A few feet away we saw a black SUV. The driver's door was opening and closing. It was strange.
"And then the door swung open and a blonde woman fell out of the car onto the road.
"I saw that a guy with dark hair and a beard had moved from the passenger seat to the driver's seat.
"He stepped on the accelerator and disappeared, and the woman sat on the road and held her neck.
"Suddenly the woman stood up and blood started to flow from her throat like a fountain. She sat down and stood up, sat down and stood up again.
"I don't know why, but this happened several times. Then she lay down and didn't move again until the ambulance arrived."
The victim was the glamorous mum-of-one and former daughter-in-law of mega-wealthy Yakut oligarch Alexander Karas.
Ekaterina Karas poses in undated photo. She was killed by a man who wanted to steal her expensive SUV in Samara, Russia. Note: Private photo taken from social media.(NF/newsX)
Giesdzhonzoda, 21, had pretended to be a wealthy buyer and carried a bag stuffed full of RUB 3 million (GBP 28,000) in cash when he came to see the SUV in July 2023.
But during lengthy trials and road tests Ekaterina became suspicious of his scruffy appearance and the fact that she had to hire a room for him overnight, the court heard.
Giesdzhonzoda, who pled not guilty to robbery and murder, was caught when he tried to ride back to Kazan in a taxi but was stopped by police.
His defence team claimed he knew nothing of the brutal murder and that he had left the city when a deal to borrow cash to buy the car had fallen through.
But a jury rejected his version and declared him guilty of all charges, local media reported on 11th April.
Judge Lia Pirozhkova sentenced him to 24 years 11 months' jail in a harsh penal labour colony.
Ekaterina Karas poses in undated photo. She was killed by a man who wanted to steal her expensive SUV in Samara, Russia. Note: Private photo taken from local media.(NF/newsX)
Giesdzhonzoda was also ordered to pay Ekaterina's son RUB 3 million (GBP 28,000) compensation and her sister RUB 1.5 million (GBP 13,800) compensation.