Sergei Smirnitsky is a citizen of Moscow and was recently arrested on murder charges after he attempted to get a neighbor to help him remove a body from his flat. The neighbor called the police and Smirnitsky was arrested for killing Vasily Lobozov after Lobozov offered his life if he lost a game of backgammon.

According to Smirnitsky, he and Lobozov decided to share a taxi cab. While riding, Smirnitsky invited Lobozov to his flat and Lobozov accepted the invitation. Once they arrived at the flat, Lobozov noticed a backgammon set on a shelf and asked Smirnitsky about it.

Smirnitsky stated that he had made it during labor camp while serving time for a robbery and it took him years to make it. Lobozov asked if they should play a game and Smirnitsky stated that this particular backgammon board was to be played for money only.

Lobozov stated that he had no money so Smirnitsky stated he should “stake your life”. Lobozov agreed, not believing that Smirnitsky would fulfill the wager. About fifteen minutes later, Smirnitsky had beaten Lobozov. Smirnitsky went to the kitchen, picked up a knife and stabbed Lobozov five times in the neck.

In a recorded interview with an investigator, Smirnitsky stated: “We agreed that he who lost would die. He lost.”


- 2008-11-24