Panaji: A Russian national, Aleksei Leonov, who had been arrested for allegedly killing two Russian women in Goa, had dispute over borrowed money and a borrowed ‘rubber crown’ used by dancers to hold fire on their heads, according to reports.
The two victims, identified as Elena Vaneeva and Elena Kasthanova – both Russian nationals, were friends with the accused. One of them, Elena Kasthanova – who was a fire dancer, had borrowed some money and a fire crown (a rubber crown used by dancers to hold fire on their heads) from the accused, an NDTV report states. The accused was a firework artist. The other woman, too, had borrowed money, sources as quoted in the report state. However, both the victims failed to return the money and the crown to Aleksei.
According to reports, the accused by ‘triggered’ by this and slit their throats. The murders were “not pre-planned” but “triggered murders”, sources mentioned in the report claim.
While Elena Vaneeva, who was a bubble artist, had arrived in Goa on January 10, Kastananova had been in the state since December 25 last year and was living with the arrested man. The two used to work in several parts of the country and frequently visited Goa, sources said.
The first body was recovered earlier this month, following which police launched an investigation that eventually led them to Leonov. During questioning, he allegedly confessed to the killings, prompting police to reopen inquiries into a second murder involving another Russian woman.
