Dmitry Voronenko

Case details

Dmitry Voronenko was a Ukrainian man who was convicted of murder and rape. He raped and strangled four girls and young women and also raped another girl. His youngest victim was 11 years old. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Background

Dmitry Voronenko committed the crimes following his release on parole in 2005 after serving a sentence for another rape. He was 36 at the time of sentencing.

Earlier proceedings involved the prosecutor’s office demanding the death penalty, as did the relatives of the victims. Voronenko said he would agree to a death penalty despite a Russia-wide moratorium on death sentences.

Psychiatrists had earlier found Voronenko sane and fit to stand trial.

The offence

The court found that Voronenko murdered and raped four girls between 11 and 20 years of age. He raped and strangled his victims. The victims were described as blondes, about 150-cm (5-foot) tall, and wearing their own clothes. All the murders took place in St. Petersburg.

Voronenko was also charged with the rape of another girl.

Investigation

Voronenko was arrested late last May as a suspect in the murder of a 12-year-old girl whose body had been found in a St. Petersburg cellar.

In explaining his murders, he initially said that as he had no children others should not be able to either.

Arrest

Petersburg cellar.

Trial

During trial, the defense pleaded for leniency, arguing that Voronenko cooperated willingly with police and admitted his guilt during questioning.

In his final statement in court, Voronenko showed repentance:

“Punish me, I agree, I am guilty,”

The quote was attributed to parents of one of his victims.

Sentencing

Voronenko received a life imprisonment sentence on March 18, 2008, by St. Petersburg City Court.

The presiding judge said:

“The court ruled that Voronenko deserves capital punishment, which however cannot be applied due to a moratorium.” “The court therefore believes life imprisonment to be a fair punishment in this case.”

The judge also took into account that Voronenko committed the crimes between December 2006 and March 2007 while on conditional early release from prison on similar charges.

Voronenko was to be jailed without the possibility of release under amnesty or parole.

Appeals

An appeal against the verdict could be made to the Supreme Court within 10 days.

Outcome

The court sentenced Voronenko to life imprisonment and determined that capital punishment could not be applied due to a moratorium.

Other details

Voronenko is to be jailed without the possibility of release under amnesty or parole. The parents of the murdered girls planned to seek the lifting of Russia's moratorium on the death sentence.