The gruesome murder of Saltanat Nukenova by her husband - former Kazakh Economy Minister Kuandyk Bischimbayev - is shocking the country.
Described as the "trial of the century" by the national press, it took on a new twist after images were released of the former ruler being attacked in a restaurant owned by one of Bischimbayev's relatives.
After an argument outside the restaurant, Nukenova was dragged by her hair, kicked and strangled by her husband. According to Correio da Manhã, the assaults continued off camera.
"After dragging her out of the bathroom, Bishimbayev grabbed her around the neck and strangled her. She lost consciousness," said the prosecutor, quoted by CM.
The 31-year-old astrologer was found dead with head trauma, but only the next day, after the ex-minister returned to the restaurant "calmly" to eat.
The ex-minister had initially said that Nukenova died of self-inflicted injuries and that the trauma was from hitting her head on a sink. However, this Wednesday, Bischimbayev admitted the assaults.
Images revealed by the victim's defense in court suggest that Bishimbayev's assaults were recurrent.
Kuandyk Bischimbayev could face up to 20 years in prison. Thousands of people are signing petitions calling for tougher penalties for domestic violence - unlike in that Asian country.
