HARUTYUNYAN v. ARMENIA JUDGMENT 3 C. The applicant’s confession and the institution of criminal proceedings against him 12. On 16 April 1999 the applicant was interrogated as a suspect by the investigator examining the case, to whom he confessed that he had accidentally shot serviceman H. 13. On 17 April 1999 the applicant was formally charged with premeditated murder and questioned as an accused by the investigator; during this interview he repeated his confession. Thereafter he was taken to the crime scene, where he made the same statement in front of a video camera and the relevant record was drawn up. On the same date the applicant was placed in pre-trial detention. 14. According to the applicant, immediately after their release from the police station on an unspecified date, servicemen T. and A. informed the Military Prosecutor of Armenia (ՀՀ զինվորական դատախազ) in writing that they had been coerced into slandering the applicant. 15. On 19 June 1999 the applicant and servicemen T. and A. were subjected to medical examinations, during which various injuries to their fingers and A.’s head were noted. 16. On 11 August 1999 a confrontation was held between the applicant and serviceman T., during which the latter confirmed his earlier testimony against the applicant. D. The applicant’s conviction at first instance 17. On an unspecified date, the applicant’s criminal case was brought before the Syunik Regional Court (Սյունիքի մարզի առաջին ատյանի դատարան). 18. On 26 October 1999 a hearing was held during which serviceman T. confirmed his earlier testimony against the applicant. 19. On 6 December 1999 the Syunik Regional Court found the applicant guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced him to thirteen years’ imprisonment. 20. On 15 June 2000 the Criminal and Military Court of Appeal (ՀՀ քրեական և զինվորական գործերով վերաքննիչ դատարան) quashed this judgment and remitted the case for additional investigation. 21. On 12 September 2000, following the additional investigation, the case was brought again before the Syunik Regional Court. 22. On 13 June 2001 the Syunik Regional Court decided to remit the case for further investigation. 23. On 3 August 2001 the Criminal and Military Court of Appeal quashed this decision on an appeal by the prosecutor and remitted the case to the Syunik Regional Court for examination on the merits.