Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced today a guilty plea entered by Dimitri Darzhinov, 54, of Lakewood to Aggravated Manslaughter before Judge Wendel E. Daniels for the death of Gela Suqiashvilli, 54, on June 14, 2016 in Lakewood.

His sentencing is tentatively scheduled for September 1st. Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Biringer is the case prosecutor. OCPO Det. John Murphy and Lakewood Police Detective Oscar Valmon handled the case investigation, with assistance from the Ocean County Sheriff Department CSI. OCPO Victim Witness Advocate Allison Betts served as liaison to the victim’s family.

The guilty plea stems from a fatal stabbing that took place on June 14, 2016. On that date, at approximately 1:04 am, the Lakewood Police Department received a 911 call through the Howell Police Department in which the Russian speaking caller through language line reported that a stabbing had occurred at 149 East Kennedy Boulevard, Building 4, Apartment 7, in Lakewood, New Jersey. The Lakewood Police Department subsequently dispatched Officers to the apartment who knocked on the door and received no response from inside.

Lakewood officers proceeded to check the apartment complex area and located Dimitri Darzhinov several doors down from apartment 149. Dorzhinov spoke Russian to the Officers who located him. The Officers utilized language line to communicate with him and learned that Darzhinov was involved in an altercation within apartment 149 with the occupant.

Lakewood Police Officers immediately responded back to the apartment and forced entry finding a victim, later identified as Gela Suqiashvilli, sitting on a chair unresponsive and suffering from multiple puncture and slash wounds to his upper torso and face. Monoc Medic Unit 207 was immediately summoned to provide medical aid, however, Suqiashvilli was pronounced dead 1:48 am. Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crime Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI were notified and responded to assist in the investigation.

As the crime scene was being processed, Dimitri Darzhinov was taken to the Lakewood Police Headquarters where OCPO Major Crimes Detective John Murphy and Lakewood Police Detective Oscar Valmon continued the investigation. Lakewood Police Officer Tymur Zavalnyuk, who speaks Russian, was able to communicate with Darzhinov and provided translation assistance. The investigation found that Darzhinov and the victim began to wrestle, which escalated and resulted in the stabbing. Darzhinov then made the 911 call reporting the stabbing after leaving the residence.