The Haskovo District Court examined four expert reports and reviewed surveillance footage during an ongoing trial concerning the April 2025 killing of 18-year-old Magdalena Ruseva, dariknews.bg reported. The proceedings focus on Ivan Kostov, who was 17 years old at the time of the offense and stands accused of murdering his classmate in Haskovo.
Court Review of Surveillance Footage and Evidence in Haskovo
During the court session, magistrates reviewed video recordings from the night of the incident and the days following, as presented by the video-technical expert. dnes.dir.bg reported that the footage captured the group of teenagers moving through the city, as well as the defendant rolling a plastic drum down Timok Street. Prosecutors state that Kostov used the container to transport Ruseva’s body approximately 600 meters to an abandoned property on Amur Street.
The display of the video evidence prompted an emotional reaction from the victim’s mother, Lidiya Trendafilova, who attended the hearing Haskovo.net noted. The court processed conclusions from four out of 11 total expert opinions scheduled for the trial. A third expert was absent due to concurrent commitments in Sofia, according to bgonair.bg.
Kostov allegedly strangled Ruseva with an elastic band
Investigators state that Ruseva and Kostov were together in the home of the defendant’s grandfather on Timok Street on the night of April 26, 2025, after another companion departed. Forensic medical examinations confirmed that the victim died from mechanical asphyxiation after being strangled with an elastic band from a tracksuit bottom haskovo.info reported. The perpetrator subsequently discarded the victim’s clothes in a garbage container and placed her body inside the drum.
Because Kostov was a minor at the time of the alleged crime, state prosecutors maintain he understood the significance of his actions. Under Bulgarian law for juvenile offenders, a conviction carries a prison sentence ranging from 5 to 12 years. The defendant has remained in custody since his arrest in 2025, while the Haskovo District Court previously rejected defense motions to alter his detention to house arrest.
Ruseva family seeks 1.8 million euros in damages
Family members of Magdalena Ruseva have established themselves as private prosecutors and civil claimants in the legal proceedings. According to dnes.dir.bg, the relatives are seeking a total of 1.8 million euros in non-property damages. This figure comprises 600,000 euros claimed by the victim’s mother and 300,000 euros for each of the four other close relatives.
Court schedules DNA evidence for October 2026
The judicial process in Haskovo continues with subsequent hearings scheduled to evaluate remaining scientific evidence. Magistrates set the next court date for October 2, 2026, when additional expert conclusions, including DNA analyses, are expected to be presented to the court Haskovo.net noted.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Haskovo Trial
What specific legal charges does Ivan Kostov face in the Haskovo District Court?
Ivan Kostov is on trial for the premeditated murder of his 18-year-old classmate, Magdalena Ruseva, committed in April 2025. Because he was 17 years old when the crime occurred, he is being tried under juvenile legal provisions that carry a potential prison sentence of 5 to 12 years dnes.dir.bg.
How much financial compensation are the victim’s relatives demanding?
The family of Magdalena Ruseva is seeking 1.8 million euros in total non-property damages through civil claims filed in the Haskovo District Court. The demand includes 600,000 euros for the victim’s mother, Lidiya Trendafilova, and 300,000 euros for each of four other close relatives dnes.dir.bg.
What evidence did the court examine during the October 1, 2026 hearing?
The court reviewed conclusions from four out of 11 scheduled expert opinions, which included video-technical analyses. Magistrates played surveillance footage showing the defendant rolling a plastic drum containing the victim’s body along Timok Street toward Amur Street dariknews.bg.