Trajko Bojkovski admits killing three women and says motive was money

A man from Kumanovo, identified as Trajko Bojkovski, told the court he killed three women and said his motive was money, while prosecutors continue to charge him with the murders of four women.

At earlier hearings Bojkovski denied the charges, but at the latest session he admitted responsibility for three of the four homicides in the indictment. He testified in a confused manner, repeatedly saying he had killed "three grandmothers," yet when the victims' names were mentioned he could not clearly identify which were his victims. He also acknowledged two attempted murders.

Psychiatric report: calculating behaviour

Prosecutors noted that psychiatric experts had concluded the killings were committed to satisfy sexual urges involving dead women, but Bojkovski rejected those findings and insisted he acted for monetary reasons.

The court heard an expert opinion by Dr. Stojan Bajrakatrov from the Clinic for Psychiatry, who said the defendant had been calculating when he carried out the killings.

Prosecutor Ljubomir Lape told the court that while the defendant has the right to choose his defence, Bojkovski had in fact admitted all murders to the public prosecutor.

"He himself did not know which criminal offence he denied so to all cross questions he answered affirmatively. He admitted the criminal acts before the public prosecutor and there are other pieces of evidence supporting the indictment. The choice of defence is his right. He thinks that this will most likely ease his situation and psychiatrists believe that the defendant acts in a direction to ease his condition," Ljubomir Lape said.

Closing arguments are scheduled for October 6, after which the court will issue its verdict.

Photo: press material from the event