Brother Says Bulgarian Bartender Was Murdered for Revenge

The brother of murdered Maria Zlatanova insists his sister became the victim of a revenge attack.

Maria Zlatanova, 30, a bar manager, was murdered overnight Monday at Bulgaria's Sunny Beach sea resort.

Local police authorities believe 29-year-old former policeman Mihail Menashki was driven by jealousy as he stabbed his victim, who was his former girlfriend.

Menashki firmly denies ever being intimate with Zlatanova.

Meanwhile, a judge revealed that Menashki's new girlfriend may have driven him to commit the murder.

The girlfriend, Margarita Miteva, 17, a model from the nearby city of Burgas, has allegedly asked Menashki to "prove his love for her" by "beating up" his ex, the judge has told local media.

"My sister was killed in a payback act because a month ago she scolded Menashki and Miteva for using illegal drugs inside the bar during Miteva's birthday party," brother Georgi Zlatanov told 24 Chassa (24 Hours) daily.

He also rejects firmly reports that Maria dated Menashki.

Ever since after the party, Miteva has asked the ex cop to punish Maria for the reprimand.

According to Zlatanov, the alleged murderer has been seen going to the bar and harassing the victim, but her colleagues came to her defense. He says he wants a lifetime behind bars sentence for the killer.

The brother further informs that police investigators told him they found illegal drugs inside Menashki's apartment and the murder weapon, the knife, which belongs to Miteva.

After Menashki's arrest, the Court ruled to keep him in custody. Miteva told the magistrates that she was carrying the knife for self-defense and admitted she has asked her boyfriend to "spank Maria a little."

Zlatanova was buried Wednesday in the town of Asenovgrad.

The murder happened slightly after 1:30 pm Monday when the victim left the bar after the end of her shift. She was accompanied by her 18-year-old boyfriend.

Maria was stabbed 5 times, her fatal wound being in the chest. The 18-year-old youngster was rushed to hospital with injuries.

Menashki was recently dishonorably discharged as police officer for selling fake road vignettes. He would face a life sentence if proven guilty of murder.