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Damian Kerlik
Photo: Yaron Brener
Natalia Kerlik
Photo: Dana Kopel
Damian's father, Oleg Kerlik
Photo: Ofer Amram
Natalia's sister, Masha Ilinich
Photo: Avi Moalem
Couple's 17-year-old daughter
Photo: Avi Moalem

Damian Kerlik indicted in Ushrenko murder

Indictment filed with Petah Tikva District Court against former head waiter at family's restaurant, who is charged with murder, robbery, conspiring to commit a crime, arson and break-in. His wife accused of manslaughter. Kerlik's father, daughter and sister-in-law to be indicted as well

The Central District Prosecutor's Office on Thursday morning filed an indictment with the Petah Tikva District Court against Damian Kerlik for the murder of six members of the Ushrenko family in Rishon Lezion. Kerlik was also charged with robbery, conspiring to commit a crime, arson and break-in.

 

His wife Natalia was charged with manslaughter, destruction of evidence, conspiring to commit a crime and robbery. The indictment was filed by Attorney Tzachi Uziel.

 

The indictment details how Kerlik strangled baby Netanel Ushrenko and crushed his skull before stabbing him in the chest and back eight times. He stabbed Eduard Ushrenko 18 times, his wife Ludmila once, their son Dmitry 38 times, their daughter-in-law Tatiana 30 times, and granddaughter Rochelle nine times.

 

According to the indictment, Damian and Natalia chose to carry out the murder on the night of October 16, while their daughter was celebrating her 17th birthday at the Ushrenko restaurant with a cake baked by Dmitry Ushrenko's sister.  

 

The indictment also details the "evidence destruction operation" launched by Natalia and Damian's father, Oleg, a day after the murder, as Damian escaped south. Natalia is said to have destroyed the knife, the blood-stained clothes and towel, the cellular phones and the keys to the Ushrenko apartment.


Natalia and Damian Kerlik in court (Photo: Yaron Brener)

 

The two, the indictment said, scattered the incriminating evidence in difference places throughout the city. Meanwhile, Natalia suggested that her husband return for the Ushrenko family's funeral so as not to raise suspicions. A day later the couple escaped again, after having purchased flight tickets to Russia.

 

They were arrested shortly afterwards by investigators of the Central District's central unit. Several days later, Damian broke down, confessed to the murder and reenacted it.

 

'A horrendous act'

The prosecution asked the court to keep the couple in custody until the completion of the legal proceedings, claiming that the indictment includes "horrendous acts which cannot be described in words." Attorney Uziel added that after the murder, Kerlik drove to the restaurant and tried to open its doors in order to steal more money.

 

The prosecution added that Natalia continued to work in the restaurant until the very day of the murder, and therefore had access to the apartment's keys and was able to duplicate them. The couple is also said to have entered and toured the apartment before the murder.

 

The prosecution said it had evidence that the two were guilty, including Kerlik's confession and reenactment, his DNA found on clothes left at the murder scene, his family members' confession and evidence of text messages sent during the act.

 

The prosecutors said in their request that "these actions are stamped with cruelty which has not been seen before, expressing clear and unequivocal dangerousness. This can be seen in the plots they made to rob those providing their livelihood, and is also revealed in the preparations they made and their actions after the murder, which reflect strict planning, sophistication, boldness, and violent and unstoppable criminal determination."

  

Attorney Uri Keinan, representing Damian Kerlik on behalf of the Public Defender's Office, said he would respond to the charges in the coming days after receiving the evidence material.

 

Attorney Avi Cohen, representing Natalia Kerlik on behalf of the Public Defender's Office, said that his client was unaware of the fact that his husband was planning to commit a murder and that she regrets cooperating with him. He asked the court to let Natalia telephone her daughter, adding that she "misses her very much".

 

Also Thursday, indictments were filed with the Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court against Kerlik's father Oleg, Natalia's sister Masha, and the couple's 17-year-old daughter, who will be charged in a juvenile court. The three are suspected of disrupting investigation procedures.

 

The Kerlik couple's remand was extended last week. Simultaneously, the police released Damian's mother, Olga, who is the only family members arrested who will not be charged. The police are also investigating suspicions that Damian was involved in two cases of homicide in Russia.

 

The investigation revealed that Damian acted alone, but his wife assisted him and was aware of his actions. Natalia claimed that she thought he was only planning to rob the Ushrenko family.

 

Police believe that Damian's motive was his dismissal from the family's Premier restaurant about two years ago, after he was caught by Eduard Ushrenko stealing vodka cases. This strife, the investigators believe, promoted strong feelings of hatred in him against the entire family.

 

In addition, Damian had heard rumors that his wife Natalia, who continued to work at the restaurant until the day of the murder, was having an affair with Eduard Ushrenko.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.19.09, 09:11
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