In Kazakhstan, the high-profile trial continues into the murder of 16-year-old Sherzat Polat, which occurred in Talgar in October 2024. The objectivity of the judicial process remains a fundamental principle of justice, particularly in cases that attract widespread public interest. In this regard, a veteran of the prosecutor's office, Khatisha Zhumagulova, told the media about her perspective on the progress of the trial.
“As someone who has worked for decades in the prosecutor's office, I can say that ensuring the objectivity of the judicial process is one of the foundational principles of justice. Judges make decisions based on evidence. There is the presumption of innocence, procedural guarantees, and judicial oversight,” the expert noted in an interview with Tengrinews.kz.
According to Zhumagulova, the noise surrounding the case is a test for the judicial and investigative system. It is important that all participants in the process are guided by the law and do not succumb to external pressure.
“Public attention can heighten the emotional atmosphere. But judges and investigators in such cases adhere to procedure particularly strictly. Our judicial system is built on the principles of legality, independence, and adversarial proceedings. The independence of judges is guaranteed by the Constitution,” she emphasised.
Commenting on the question of different charges for the participants in the attack, the expert explained:
“In cases involving group violence, the main thing is to determine who inflicted the fatal injuries and with what intent. The key point is the presence of intent. Even if a person took part in the fight, that does not mean they shared the intention to kill.”
Each participant bears responsibility to the extent of their guilt, and their actions can be classified under various articles — from causing harm to health to hooliganism.
Regarding the status of the female witnesses, Zhumagulova said:
“The degree of participation is determined based on all the evidence. What matters is whether they actively participated, knew about the plans, or helped the perpetrators to escape.”
According to her, all circumstances and the degree of guilt of each individual will be examined during the trial. If the court sees elements of an offence in the actions of specific individuals, it has the right to issue a ruling to initiate criminal proceedings.
Concerning the influence of bloggers on the judicial process, the expert noted:
“In the digital age, the impact of public opinion through social media has increased, but attempts to pressure the court are unacceptable. Bloggers should not become a 'second investigation or court'. When a blogger publishes accusations without evidence, it hinders justice. A criminal case is not a talk show.”
The veteran of the prosecutor's office urged people not to rush to conclusions:
“What matters is the evidence, not the loud headlines. The law is an instrument of justice.”
Khatisha Zhumagulova worked in the prosecutor's office from 1989, holding positions as head of the department for supervision of legality and serving as prosecutor of two districts. She retired in 2023 from the position of senior assistant to the Prosecutor General. Her length of service in the prosecutor's office was 34 years.