‘Coma Hubby’ killer goes to prison for 10 years

December 13, 2018 By Christina Carrega Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Valeriy Milonovich (center) appears in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Nov. 8 with his attorney Steven Chaikin (left) and a Russian interpreter. Eagle photo by Christina Carrega

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Before a jealous man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday for causing the death of his neighbor, his defense attorney slammed the Brooklyn prosecutor’s office for denying his client’s guilty plea, dragging the trial out.

“I don’t want to be disrespectful,” said Steven Chaikin, the defense attorney for Valeriy Milonovich. “I speak for myself, not my client … This trial was a waste of time. This trial did not have to happen.”

Prior to starting a jury trial in Brooklyn Supreme Court in November, Milonovich was offered a 15-year plea bargain for stabbing 48-year-old Maxim Doukhan to death on July 30, 2017.

Milonovich, 55, was facing 25 years to life in prison for second-degree murder.

But, when the offer was discussed with Doukhan’s widow and other family members, they did not agree with the suggested prison term — so the prosecutor rejected the plea.

“We cannot run the system on the backs of those who are hurting,” said Chaikin to Justice Vincent Del Giudice at the sentencing hearing. “The victims do not get to decide that on their own.”

Tatiana Doukhan, in a victim impact statement given through a Russian interpreter, laid out the details of her life with her husband before he was killed.

Prior to the altercation with Milonovich, Maxim Doukhan had been in a yearlong coma. Tatiana Doukhan, 61, told the judge that she prayed for her husband every day of the coma as the medical bills piled up to over $1.3 million.

“I stayed with him overnight, put two chairs together next to his bed and slept next to him at night holding his hand,” said Tatiana Doukhan during her statement.

The two had been married for 10 years when Maxim Doukhan awoke from the coma. “Ten years of happiness. God gave him to me,” said Tatiana Doukhan.

When the sick man returned to his Sheepshead Bay home, Tatiana Doukhan told him that Milonovich was flirting with her during his hospitalization stint.

Maxim Doukhan went to Milonovich’s home on Avenue Z to confront him. An argument ensued and Milonovich stabbed Maxim Doukhan.

Milonovich admitted, through a Russian interpreter, in a three-hour videotaped statement to detectives that he stabbed Doukhan.

“My client was willing to plea to murder and get 15 years. That’s how guilty he felt,” said Chaikin, adding, “He went to trial kicking and screaming.”

Nevertheless, the trial resumed after Tatiana Doukhan’s rejection of the plea. In the end, the jury acquitted Milonovich of second-degree murder, but convicted him of first-degree manslaughter.

Law enforcement sources familiar with the case told the Brooklyn Eagle after the verdict that the jury “got it right.”

Justice Del Giudice sentenced Milonovich to 10 years in prison with five years of supervised release after he completed his stint.