A close friend of murdered Russian couple Yuri Shipulin and Nataliya Gerasimova has described their killing and dismemberment as inhumane.

Alla Mallerich, a Russian translator in Fiji, said the incident was traumatic and she feared disclosing anymore information to the couple’s parents as it may traumatise them.

“I continue to keep in touch with the couple’s parents and children in Russia and I have promised them I will help them get all the paperwork done here in Fiji for them because the parents are not physically fit to travel this far,” Ms Mallerich said.

She said the Russian media continued to speculate different stories about the couple’s death which was very hurting as the family was still processing the whole news and it was an emotional time for them.

“The act is just so inhumane, I cannot imagine how someone can do this, it was a ruthless act of the killer. No family can bear the news of their members being cut in such manner.

“We cannot imagine that Yuri and Nataliya are just not with us anymore.”

Emotional, Ms Mallerich said it was a painful time for the family and even more for their children.

“It just does not feel safe anymore and we want the killer caught as soon as possible.

“It kills us knowing the brutality of Yuri and Nataliya’s death and with no knowledge of the killer yet, it is frightening for us,” Ms Mallerich said.

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho told Fiji Sun that divers continue to search the Natadola waters. However he said he could not confirm whether more body parts were discovered.

“The divers are still conducting the search at Natadola beach,” he said.

He said Police were still clamping down on all the information regarding the investigation.

Five years ago, Mr Shipulin and Ms Gerasimova left Ryazan, Russia and headed to Fiji.

After they arrived here they bought a farm in the highlands at Mulomulo, inland from Nadi, and grew vegetables.

On June 16 they left their farm after midday but never returned. On the evening of June 17, Police recovered the couple’s vehicle, but there was no sign of the couple.

The first of a series of body parts was found at Natadola Beach. DNA tests showed that the body parts were of the Russian couple.

A head wrapped in netting was later found.

Some security guards for Sea Breeze Jet Ski saw a ghost-like figure on the beach early on June 17 and shone a torch on the “big man” at around 3am.

However, they feared that the person whom they described “as white from the hip up and black downwards” could have been an evil being, a ghost.

They did not pursue him because they were afraid.

It is speculated the black could have been the bottom part of a wet suit used by a diver.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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