Trial opens for shocking family murder in West Kazakhstan
A trial has begun in Atyrau, western Kazakhstan, in what media describe as one of the most horrific crimes in the country’s recent history.
Read also: The haunting case of a vanished family in western Kazakhstan.
The defendant, Sultan Sarsemaliyev, appeared in court on charges of killing four members of the same family — his parents-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law — and concealing their bodies. The reason Sultan killed his in-laws has been disclosed during court proceedings.
Sultan admitted the charges against him and said he was prepared to serve a life sentence for his actions.
«They interfered in my family life, drove a wedge between my wife and me, and caused our divorce. Even after that, we did not want to separate and continued living together. They repeatedly threatened me and never stopped interfering in my family affairs.
“All of this happened because they tried to take my wife away from me, saying, ‘Neither you nor your parents will take the children,’ while using my own children to blackmail me and pushing me toward committing such a crime. They damaged my honor, and until recently I tried to keep my family together,» the defendant said.
According to his testimony, Sultan said he did not want his children to be separated from either parent and had hoped to preserve the family despite the ongoing conflict.
Background of the family conflict
According to the indictment, Sultan and his wife, Akbayan, divorced in 2022. Their conflict reportedly began after disagreements over where the couple should live.
«In 2022, Akbayan’s mother, Nassip Uteshkaliyeva, opposed her daughter living with her in-laws — Sultan’s parents — and demanded that she rent a house in the city and live there with her children. Upon hearing this, Sultan refused to agree, stating that he would not leave his parents. As a result of this demand, a conflict arose between Sultan and Akbayan, and the woman filed for divorce,» the indictment stated.
In August 2022, Akbayan gave birth to a daughter and lived with her children in a house rented by her parents. On Nov. 22, 2022, the couple was legally divorced, and under a court ruling, the children remained with their mother.
Family tensions escalated in 2024
After the divorce, Sultan later decided to live with his family and moved in with them in 2023. A short time later, in February 2023, he rented another house in Atyrau and moved there with his family.
The relationship between Sultan and his in-laws deteriorated further in August 2024 during a family trip to visit his wife’s parents.
Reportedly, the situation escalated after Akbayan, who was pregnant at the time, became seriously ill while at her parents’ home. She underwent major surgery and remained in a coma for 20 days.
At that point, her parents allegedly decided to restrict Sultan’s movement, effectively keeping him at their home.
Alleged confinement and growing hostility
Prosecutors said Maksot Karabalin, the wife’s father, and Nassip feared that if Sultan returned to the city, he would take the children to his own parents.
They allegedly demanded that he remain at the home and did not allow him to leave for Akbayan’s residence.
«This caused Sarsemaliev to develop hatred toward his wife’s relatives,» the prosecutor said, according to the indictment.
Medical emergency and treatment abroad
Akbayan was later discharged from the hospital but reportedly began experiencing serious mental health complications.
Following this, Sultan and Nauryz, Akbayan’s younger brother, took her to Turkey for treatment. However, the treatment was unsuccessful.
Fatal altercation and cover-Up
After returning, an argument broke out between Sultan and Nauryz at a rented house on the outskirts of Atyrau.
During the dispute, Sultan allegedly stabbed his brother-in-law. He then buried the body in a pit dug beneath the house and cleaned the scene to remove blood evidence.
Prosecutors also allege that the suspect later took out a loan of 4 million tenge in the name of the deceased.
The court proceedings are ongoing.
