The Novosibirsk Regional Court has acquitted two former police officers accused of the 2010 murder of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in the village of Yarkul. Maxim Kudryavtsev and Evgeny Bartolomey were accused of abducting and killing Natasha Matyukhina.

Investigators alleged that Kudryavtsev struck the girl with a car, after which he and Bartolomey kidnapped and murdered her. The defendants also faced charges of abuse of power.

While Kudryavtsev was found guilty of hitting a pedestrian, the statute of limitations for that crime had expired. Both men were acquitted on charges of murder and abuse of power due to the absence of a crime.

Defense lawyer Tamara Alekseeva stated that the verdict was expected, noting the lack of evidence for the murder and abuse of power charges. Both defendants were released from custody immediately following the court’s decision.