True crime · 19.04.1998
Four shot dead in a Kohtla-Järve flat
On the evening of 19 April 1998, Easter Sunday, four people were shot in the head and chest in a flat at Põhja allee 16 in Kohtla-Järve. The dead included Anatoli Nikolajev's 39-year-old partner and a pregnant young woman. Nikolajev said he had been at home with his son and blamed a local gang leader who had quarrelled with his partner. He was arrested the next day. At trial the prosecutor dropped the charge, but the law of the time let the court go on, and Nikolajev was given life. Critics said the evidence was thin. In March 2018 President Kersti Kaljulaid pardoned him. The building has been demolished.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
19. aprilli 1998 õhtul lasti Kohtla-Järvel Põhja allee 16 maja korteris maha neli inimest. Hukkunute seas olid Anatoli Nikolajevi 39-aastane elukaaslane ja rase noor naine. Nikolajev ütles, et oli kodus koos pojaga, ja pidas süüdlaseks kohalikku jõugupealikku, kellel oli elukaaslasega tüli. Järgmisel päeval võeti ta vahi alla. Kohtus loobus prokurör süüdistusest, kuid tollane seadus lubas kohtul menetlust jätkata ja Nikolajevile mõisteti eluaegne vangistus. Kriitikute arvates olid tõendid väga hõredad. 2018. aasta märtsis andis president Kersti Kaljulaid talle armu. Maja on nüüdseks lammutatud.
Source: Estonian Wikipedia: Anatoli Nikolajev, citing Eesti Ekspress and the Supreme Court ↗