Russia’s ‘ werewolf on trial for 59 murders

A former policeman, Pepkov has committed a total of 81 murders

Moscow, Jan. 10: A Russian former policeman convicted of killing 22 women went on trial on Wednesday for a further 59 murders, totalling 81, in a case that could make him Russia’s most prolific serial killer in recent history.

Mikhail Popkov, 53, appeared in court in the Siberian city of Irkutsk after confessing to 59 additional murders and one attempted killing between 1992 and 2010, Interfax news agency reported.

An AFP report said he is already serving a life sentence for raping and killing 22 women, and the attempted murder of two more. He killed his victims after offering the women rides late at night, sometimes in a police car, while he was off- duty around his hometown of Angarsk near Irkutsk.

In an interview with Meduza news site in December, he said he used a hammer or axe to kill victims and after his first crime felt little fear of discovery.

Nicknamed “the werewolf” and the “Angarsk maniac” by Russian media, if convicted, he would exceed murders committed by “chessboard killer” Alexander Pichushkin, who killed 48, and Andrei Chikatilo, convicted for 52 murders.

Wednesday’s hearing saw prosecutors read out the accusations against Popkov.

Pepkov picked up his victims by offering them lifts in his car In an interview, he admitted to killing the women by hammer or axe If convicted, he will exceed the murders committed by the chessboard killer and Andrei Chikatilo