US court delays Volkov trial over prep issues
The trial of Leonid Volkov, brother of an actress from 'Voroniny,' in the U.S. has been postponed from September 2026 to January 2027 due to unpreparedness of top lawyers, delays in DNA evidence, absence of a key digital forensics expert, and last-minute addition of a new prosecution witness.
Consensus
- The trial of Leonid Volkov has been postponed from September 2026 toJanuary 2027.
- The defense lawyers requested the postponement due to unpreparedness.
- A key digital forensics expert will be on vacation during the original trial dates.
- Additional DNA test results are delayed and expected by the end of September.
- A new prosecution witness, a forensic anthropologist, was added to the list just days before the trial.
- Leonid Volkov agreed to the postponement.
- The defense was funded by U.S. taxpayers at a cost of $25,000.
- Volkov is accused of murdering and dismembering two Russian nationals from Saint Petersburg: Pavel Vekshin and Kirill Shchukin.
- The alleged motive for the killings is a housing dispute.
Coverage (2 sources)
- Lawyers could not prepare for trial of actor from Voronin's brother in USA — РИАМО
- Top lawyers for $25,000 failed to prepare for the trial of the brother of an actress from 'Voronyins' in the US — case of murder and dismemberment of a gay couple... — Baza