Kazakhstan Court Rejects Challenge, Trial in Sherzat Polat Death Case Continues

Taldykorgan Court Rejects Challenge to Judge in Sherzat Polat Death Case Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan – A court in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan, has rejected a challenge to the presiding judge in the ongoing trial concerning the death of Sherzat Polat. The defense lawyer for the main defendant, Abzal Shynasyl, argued that Judge Erzhan Zhanuzakov had acted improperly by failing to summon a key expert witness to testify. However, Judge Askarbek Beimbetov, who reviewed the challenge, deemed the objection unfounded and dismissed it. The trial will continue under Judge Zhanuzakov's leadership. "The judge's refusal to call the expert witness is a serious procedural error," stated Shynasyl's lawyer in court. "This directly impacts our ability to present a robust defense." The rejection of the challenge underscores the complexities of the case and the ongoing legal battle surrounding Sherzat Polat's death. The trial's progression will be closely monitored as it continues to unfold.