KHUJAND, August 22, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A resident of the northern city of Taboshar, Ikrom Ortiqov, 36, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering his brother.

Judge Jourabek Sherov, who presided over the trial, says the tragedy took place on April 12, 2011.  “When Ikrom Ortiqov came home, he saw that his bother, Ilhom Ortiqov, who was in a drunken state, was wrangling with their aged father,” said the judge, “When Ikrom asked Ilhom to stop wrangle, Ilhom began to wrangle with him, threatening him with knife.  In the course of the fight, Ikrom took away the knife and stabbed his brother twice in the stomach and several times in the back.  Ilhom Ortiqov died on the spot.”

Ikrom Ortiqov will serve his term in a high-security penal colony.

According to the statistical data from the Sughd police directorate, 19 murders have been registered in Sughd province over the first six months of this year, which is seven cases fewer than in the same period last year.