Switzerland re-examines case of Russian convicted of the murder

27 Nov, 2006 03:42 / Updated 17 years ago

The case of the Russian architect Vitaly Kaloyev, found guilty of the murder of an air traffic controller who was blamed for a plane collision over southern Germany, is to be re-examined in Switzerland.

The Appeals Court in Zurich has ruled the eight year jail sentence was too severe.Kaloev is accused of stabbing to death a Danish-born air traffic controller, who he blamed for a plane collision over southern Germany.The 2002 disaster claimed 71 lives, including Kaloev's wife and children. The Court of Appeal ruled that the murder was premeditated, but Kaloev's lawyers say he acted in the heat of passion.