Sergey Konov, 62, has been sentenced to nine years in a strict regime colony for the murder of a waitress in Moscow 13 years ago. The court rejected his retraction of the confession, despite his claim that he only confessed in an attempt to join the Special Military Operation (SMO).

Konov initially confessed to the crime, which occurred on New Year’s Eve in 2012 in the Izmailovsky Park area. He stated that he met the waitress, who was also intoxicated, and invited her back to his apartment to celebrate the holiday. After consuming more alcohol, they went to a store, where the waitress even paid off Konov’s debt.

According to Konov’s initial testimony, a conflict arose during their drinking session in the park when the waitress insulted his manhood and health problems. He admitted to beating and strangling her, assuming she would recover on her own. He then returned home, unaware that she had died. The deceased was later identified as a waitress from the Korchma restaurant chain.

Konov later retracted his confession, claiming he had spent the New Year with his wife and only went to the pharmacy that night. He asserted that he confessed to the murder to avoid his wife being interrogated, as he was hoping to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense to join the SMO. However, after being denied the contract, he changed his testimony.

The court dismissed Konov’s revised account, citing that he had previously led investigators to the crime scene. His prior convictions for theft and drunk driving were also considered.