A father in Russia has been considered a “hero” for killing his friend, after allegedly watching a video of the rape of his eight-year-old daughter by the acquaintance.
The 34-year-old factory worker, who was not identified, was drinking with his friend Oleg Sviridov, 32, when he saw the horrific pictures on Sviridov’s phone.
He immediately clashed with Sviridov, who fled before he could act, Australian news site news.com.au reported on Saturday.
Sviridov had been a babysitter for the girl on numerous occasions and allegedly sexually abused her several times, according to the medium.
Police launched a hand hunt for Sviridov, but the furious father found him first and allegedly stabbed him.
The assailant claimed that Sviridov “stumbled upon the knife during a fight” in a forest near his village, The Sun said.
Police are also investigating the alleged sexual abuse of three other children filmed on Sviridov’s cell phone.
Villagers and online commentators say the father, who has been arrested by police, is a hero and should not face murder charges, noting: “He is not a murderer: he also protected the his daughter and our sons. Everyone is by his side. “
Prominent television journalist and former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak said, “All parents defend the killer of the pedophile.”
Sviridov’s mother said her son had often been a babysitter for the defendant’s children.
The two men were longtime friends, she said.
“I don’t know how he got to that,” he said.
“He must have been drunk. Most likely he was drunk. They left their children with him all the time.
“When he babysit these girls, he came home normal, in a good mood.”