October 26, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 13, 1428

MOSCOW, Oct 25: Russia’s ‘Chessboard killer’ Alexander Pichushkin showed no remorse on Thursday when he addressed a Moscow court for the final time after being found guilty of a series of 48 murders.

Rather than seeking lenience, he taunted the court, which on Wednesday found him guilty on all charges.

“For 500 days I have been under arrest and for all this time you have all decided my fate. At one time I alone decided the fate of 60 people,” he said.

“I alone was the judge and prosecutor and the executioner. I was God. I alone fulfilled all of your functions.” Arrested on June 16, 2006, Pichushkin earlier told the court he intended to kill 64 people, one for each of the squares on a chessboard, giving rise to his nickname in the media.

He is due to be sentenced for 48 murders and three attempted murders on Monday. Moscow prosecutors are currently investigating 11 additional killings.

Pichushkin claims to have killed 63 people in all: 29 of whom he knew and 34 who he did not. Most were killed in the sprawling Bitsa Park on the outskirts of Moscow.—AFP