Accused murderer Damian Kerlik, who has admitted to killing Eduard Ushrenko and five members of his family, is wanted by Russian authorities. It is being reported that he is the subject of one of 200 extradition requests, but the case seems to have been part of the system-backlog.

Kerlik slaughtered the Rishon L’Tzion family on a shabbos morning last month to avenge his anger, resulting from being fired from the victim’s restaurant, where he was employed as a head waiter.

Justice Ministry officials explain that they only received the evidence to back the extradition request from Russian authorities towards the end of 2008. Officials add that they seek to place subjects of extradition orders on a priority list is they are deemed dangerous based on the evidence in hand, and in this case, after receiving the evidence, the case was being processed.

The suspect has been transferred to Darom Prison, where he is under suicide watch, restrained to his bed in a lone cell for most hours of the day. Police report a team may travel to St. Petersburg to investigate his past and possible connection to other murders.

The state is preparing its case against family members as well, some who will be charged with aiding the accused and interfering in the police investigation. The defense attorney has announced his client has retracted his confession, which he states was coerced.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)