Quadruple murder believed to be domestic dispute

  • 2008-10-27
  • TBT Staff in cooperation with BNS
TALLINN - Police have said that they believe the recent horrific quadruple murder that took place in the northeastern town of Kohtla-Jarve last week was the result of a domestic dispute.

Evidence shows that it could have been the head of thefamily, Ilja, who seized the knife and stabbed both hisgirlfriend and her friend to death, the prosecutor's officereported today. The stab wounds of the fourth victim, the 14months old girl, suggest that the infant was probably notdeliberately killed but sustained the wounds during the adults' struggle.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Ilja committedsuicide after killing the three others, stabbing himself inthe neck.

Aforensic examination will establish the victims' time ofdeath, but initial observations indicate the killings took place shortly before police arrived at the scene.