MOSCOW, October 2 - RAPSI. The Health Ministry has filed a motion to have additional specialists included in the expert commission for the forensic examination in the case of notorious mixed martial artist Rasul Mirzayev, accused of killing student Ivan Agafonov during a brawl outside a Moscow nightclub, the ministry said.
On Monday the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow postponed its hearing of Mirzayev's case until October 4, as it was returned to the court with no expert examination results attached. Previously, the court had declared a recess until October 17 to receive the fifth forensic opinion prepared by the Health Ministry.
"Holding a forensic examination will require the involvement of certain medical specialists which the Health Ministry's Russian Center for Forensic Medical Expert Evaluations does not have available," the Health Ministry's statement reads.
Therefore the Center has filed a motion requesting to have these particular specialists included in the expert commission.
The ministry said that as soon the judge has granted the motion, the examination will be held with maximum impartiality and at the shortest notice.
Prior to his arrest, Mirzayev had been widely regarded as a promising MMA fighter. He was undefeated in the ring and two of his five victories were won with knockout punches. On August 16, 2011, between the incident and his arrest, Mirzayev made headlines throughout the MMA world for signing a professional multi-fight contract with sponsor Bellator Fighting Championships.
Mirzayev was initially charged with intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, resulting in Agafonov's death. During their fight outside the nightclub, Agafonov received a blow to the head and collapsed. He died in a hospital several days later without regaining consciousness.
The defense has insisted on reclassifying the charges against the martial artist, asserting that Agafonov died as a result of hitting the ground as opposed to directly from the blow. Numerous examinations have been held in the case to determine the power of Mirzayev's punch and its relation to the student's death.
Mirzayev faces up to 15 years in prison.