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| Russia professor admits murder after woman's arms found in bag | Russia professor admits murder after woman's arms found in bag |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A well-known Russian historian has confessed to murdering his lover - a former student - his lawyer says, after he was found in a river with a backpack containing a woman's arms. | A well-known Russian historian has confessed to murdering his lover - a former student - his lawyer says, after he was found in a river with a backpack containing a woman's arms. |
| Oleg Sokolov, 63, was drunk and fell into the river as he tried to dispose of body parts, Russian media said. | Oleg Sokolov, 63, was drunk and fell into the river as he tried to dispose of body parts, Russian media said. |
| Police then found the decapitated body of Anastasia Yeshchenko, 24, at his home in the city of St Petersburg. | Police then found the decapitated body of Anastasia Yeshchenko, 24, at his home in the city of St Petersburg. |
| Prof Sokolov is a Napoleon expert who has received France's Légion d'Honneur. | Prof Sokolov is a Napoleon expert who has received France's Légion d'Honneur. |
| "He has admitted his guilt," his lawyer Alexander Pochuyev told AFP, adding that he regretted what he had done and was now cooperating. | "He has admitted his guilt," his lawyer Alexander Pochuyev told AFP, adding that he regretted what he had done and was now cooperating. |
| Prof Sokolov reportedly told police that he killed his lover during an argument and then sawed off her head, arms and legs. | Prof Sokolov reportedly told police that he killed his lover during an argument and then sawed off her head, arms and legs. |
| He is said to have planned to get rid of the body before publicly taking his own life dressed as Napoleon. | |
| Mr Pochuyev said Prof Sokolov - who has been receiving hospital treatment for hypothermia - may have been under stress. | Mr Pochuyev said Prof Sokolov - who has been receiving hospital treatment for hypothermia - may have been under stress. |
| The historian has written several books on Napoleon and also acted as a historical consultant on several films. He and Ms Yeshchenko had co-authored several works. | The historian has written several books on Napoleon and also acted as a historical consultant on several films. He and Ms Yeshchenko had co-authored several works. |
| Both he and Ms Yeshchenko studied French history and enjoyed wearing period costumes, with Prof Sokolov dressing up as Napoleon. | Both he and Ms Yeshchenko studied French history and enjoyed wearing period costumes, with Prof Sokolov dressing up as Napoleon. |
| Students described him as both a talented lecturer who spoke French and did impressions of Napoleon and as a "freak" who called his lover "Josephine" and asked to be addressed as "Sire", AFP reported. | Students described him as both a talented lecturer who spoke French and did impressions of Napoleon and as a "freak" who called his lover "Josephine" and asked to be addressed as "Sire", AFP reported. |
| He was also a member of France's Institute of Social Science, Economics and Politics (Issep), which on Saturday said it had removed him from his position on its scientific committee. | He was also a member of France's Institute of Social Science, Economics and Politics (Issep), which on Saturday said it had removed him from his position on its scientific committee. |
| "We learn with horror... the atrocious crime of which Oleg Sokolov is guilty," it said in a statement. | "We learn with horror... the atrocious crime of which Oleg Sokolov is guilty," it said in a statement. |
| "We could never imagine that he could commit such an odious act," the statement added. | "We could never imagine that he could commit such an odious act," the statement added. |
| Issep was founded by Marion Maréchal, the niece of far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen and a former lawmaker for the far-right National Front party. | Issep was founded by Marion Maréchal, the niece of far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen and a former lawmaker for the far-right National Front party. |