Russian Jailed for Killing Air Traffic Controller

A Zurich court yesterday convicted a Russian architect of premeditated homicide and sentenced him to eight years, for stabbing an air traffic controller he blamed for a mid-air plane crash in which the Russian's wife and children died.

Vitaly Kaloyev, 49, killed Peter Nielsen, 36, in February 2004. Mr Nielsen had been on duty alone in July 2002 when a Bashkirian airlines passenger plane collided with a DHL cargo jet over southern Germany, killing 71 people.

Under Swiss law premeditated homicide is a lesser charge than murder and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.