MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul) - The driver of the snowplow that collided with Total CEO’s plane at Vnukovo Airport has admitted his guilt and has requested a special trial, his attorney Alexander Karabanov told RAPSI.

“Today, Vladimir Martynenko and his defense lawyers finished reading the case materials. They filed a motion on a special legal procedure during the trial which would speed up the process and potentially ease the sentence. Martynenko fully admits his guilt and has been cooperating with investigators in establishing the circumstances of the incident,” Karabanov said.

If granted a special trial, a defendant – by admitting his or her guilt – could hope for a mitigated sentence. The case is heard without examination of the evidence, and the judge cannot inflict a penalty exceeding two-thirds of the maximum punishment.

Initially, Martynenko maintained his innocence. Later, he requested a pre-trial agreement, but his request was denied.

Christophe de Margerie died in a plane crash at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow on October 21, 2014, when his plane’s wing hit a snow plow. Among the victims were three crew members, all French citizens.

Lead airfield service engineer, Vladimir Ledenev, the driver of the snow plow, Vladimir Martynenko and air traffic controller Alexander Kruglov were detained, while traffic control intern, Svetlana Krivsun, and Airport Flight Manager Roman Dunayev were placed under house arrest. All of the defendants have been charged.