Court to Re-examine Evidence in Funicular Murder Case: Kosov's Appeal

Hearing in the Case of Artem Kosov

According to Главком: On March 11, the Kyiv Court of Appeals held its second hearing regarding the appeal of Artem Kosov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 16-year-old Maksym Materukhyn at the Kyiv funicular station on April 7, 2024. The defense requested to reclassify the crime to negligent homicide, but the judges decided to re-examine the evidence.

Artem Kosov was found guilty of murdering Materukhyn, which occurred as a result of a fatal neck cut. During the incident, 2.4 promille of alcohol and traces of cannabis were found in Kosov's blood. It is noteworthy that Kosov worked as a driver in the State Guard Administration but was not performing his official duties at the time of the crime. A criminal case was opened by the State Bureau of Investigation, and the indictment was submitted to the court on May 29, 2024. The first verdict was announced on September 22, 2025, by the Shevchenkivskyi District Court.

Positions of the Parties

The defense, representing Kosov's position, stated that witnesses gave various testimonies regarding the circumstances of the incident.

“During the taking of witness statements, they provided different testimonies. Most people indicate that we fell on the stairs. I was being beaten, and I did not see where the deceased fell,” Kosov noted.

Defense lawyer Roman Shchetnytskyi added that the video from the scene, filmed by a girl who was recording a story, contradicts the witnesses' testimonies and Kosov’s intent to kill: “22 seconds later, the victim falls on the stairs, my client tries to help him, he reaches for his neck.”

However, the position of the injured party, represented by the lawyer of the Materukhyn family, was different. The lawyer emphasized that the witnesses pointed to the same circumstances, and the first-instance court made the correct decision.

“Kosov thinks that if witnesses saw one thing, it is a conspiracy. If people saw one thing, then that’s how it was in reality. All explanations given by the lawyer and the defendant are baseless,” the lawyer stated.

Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko also supported the prosecution's position, indicating that 2.4 promille of alcohol and traces of cannabis consumption were found in Kosov's blood. He expressed the opinion that Kosov, knowing about the teenager's death, attempted to apply a tourniquet to the boy's neck, indicating a cynical imitation of life-saving.

The court rejected the motion to reclassify the crime from article 115 (intentional murder) to article 119 (negligent homicide). The next appeal hearing is scheduled for August 14, where the judges will re-examine the evidence; however, they will not investigate the addition of the investigative experiment.

This case has caused significant public resonance as it highlights issues of youth violence and drug use. The appeal process could become an important milestone in the case, as it will determine the further fate of Artem Kosov and the possibility of changing the verdict. At the same time, this case might encourage greater discussion on issues of safety in public transport and accountability for committed violence.