Judge Returns Murder Case to Prosecutor Over Conflicting Psychiatric Reports

A judge in Astana has ordered a murder case back to the prosecutor's office, citing significant contradictions between psychiatric evaluations of the defendant. Judge Aizhan Kulbaeva made the ruling during the trial of Yerzhan Imankulov, who is accused of killing his cohabiting partner.

The court found that conflicting expert conclusions regarding Imankulov's mental state had not been resolved during the pre-trial investigation. One psychiatric assessment indicated he had emerged from an acute trauma period, behaved orderly, and did not require compulsory medical measures. However, a later comprehensive examination concluded he suffered from a chronic mental disorder.

"The court concluded that these contradictions were not eliminated at the pre-trial investigation stage," stated Judge Kulbaeva. "Therefore, the case must be returned to the prosecutor for additional investigation and the appointment of a repeat examination involving a different panel of specialists."

The judge also noted that expert report No. 151 raised justified doubts, necessitating a new review by different experts. Despite returning the case materials, the court left unchanged the security measure of placing the defendant in a specialized psychiatric hospital with intensive observation.

During closing arguments, state prosecutor Azat Barbolov requested that Imankulov be released from criminal liability and instead ordered to undergo compulsory treatment in a specialized psychiatric facility. This position was opposed by lawyers representing the victim's family, who insisted on a new expert examination due to inconsistencies in existing reports.

The case stems from an incident on June 19, 2025, in an Astana residential complex. According to investigators, during a conflict, Imankulov allegedly stabbed his partner multiple times before jumping from the 25th floor. He survived after landing on a parked car and was hospitalized.

The defense has referenced a comprehensive psychological-psychiatric examination from December 26, 2025, suggesting Imankulov could not comprehend or control his actions at the time of the crime. The victim's family contends earlier examinations did not definitively conclude insanity and questions whether subsequent injuries influenced later findings.