Shymkent appeals court upholds life sentence for Sherkhan Aimakhan in Nurаy Serikbay murder
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The Shymkent City Court appeals panel upheld the life sentence of Sherkhan Aimakhan for the murder of 21-year-old Nurаy Serikbay. The panel rejected appeals from both the defense and the victim's family on September 24, 2026. The defense sought to overturn the stalking charge and reduce the murder conviction, while the victim's family demanded compensation be raised from 25 million to 10 billion tenge.
Key Facts
- The Shymkent City Court appeals panel upheld the life sentence of Sherkhan Aimakhan on September 24, 2026.
- The victim's family demanded compensation be increased from 25 million to 10 billion tenge.
- The defense asked the court to acquit Aimakhan on the stalking charge and reclassify the murder as simple murder, not murder with special cruelty.
- The original verdict on August 13, 2026, sentenced Aimakhan to life imprisonment and ordered him to pay 25 million tenge in moral damages and 5 million tenge in material damages.
- The murder occurred on January 11, 2026, when Aimakhan attacked Nurаy Serikbay with a hunting knife, inflicting 35 stab wounds.
Appeals Court Decision
The appeals panel, chaired by Baidybek Dyusebekov with judges Baglan Idirisov and Dauren Saikhanov, reviewed appeals from both the defense and the victim's side. The panel found no grounds under Article 433 of the Criminal Procedure Code to overturn or modify the August 13, 2026, verdict. The court's ruling on September 24, 2026, left the life sentence unchanged and the judicial act entered into legal force.
Defense Arguments
Aimakhan's lawyers argued that the stalking charge under Article 125-1 of the Criminal Code was unproven, claiming the relationship with Nurаy Serikbay was voluntary and that video and correspondence showed her intention to marry him. The defense also contested the qualification of murder as committed with special cruelty under Article 99, Part 2, Paragraph 5, asserting that the investigation did not establish an intent to cause special suffering. They requested the court to acquit Aimakhan on the stalking charge, reclassify the murder to Article 99, Part 1, and impose a fixed-term sentence instead of life imprisonment.
Victim's Family Claims
The victim's family appealed the civil claim, seeking to increase moral damages from 25 million to 10 billion tenge. They argued the court did not justify why 25 million tenge corresponded to the severity of the harm, and that compensation should account for the forced marriage, stalking, and the especially cruel nature of the murder. The family also noted that Nurаy's father had previously contacted law enforcement and taken measures to ensure her safety.