Russian knifeman's case reopened

Alexander Koptsev did not belong to a far right group

Russia's Supreme Court has ordered a review of the 13-year prison term handed down to a man for attacking worshippers at a Moscow synagogue.

The court said the case against Alexander Koptsev must be re-examined.

Koptsev, 21, ran amok with a knife at a Moscow synagogue on 11 January, injuring nine people. He was diagnosed with a schizophrenic disorder.

In March a Moscow city court found him guilty of attempting to murder Jewish worshippers during the incident.

After bursting into the building he lashed out at random before being wrestled to the ground by the rabbi and his son, witnesses said.

Charges against him included attempted murder "motivated by racial hatred".

But in its verdict the Moscow court did not find him guilty of inciting ethnic hatred - Article 282 of Russia's criminal code.

In their appeal against the verdict, prosecutors argued that it was a mistake to exclude Article 282.

Defence lawyers also appealed against the verdict, insisting that Koptsev did not incite ethnic hatred. They also called for his health problems to be taken into consideration.

The defence said Koptsev's eyesight was deteriorating and he could leave prison as a blind invalid in 10 years' time.