Relatives of wounded bank security guard, Stancho Stanev, demand a fair trial and a harsh sentence for Stefan Petrov Stefanov, the man, who attempted to rob a bank in the Bulgarian city of Sliven.

Stanev's cousin, Marinka Markova, says that no one should be allowed to enter a bank or other facilities, draw a gun, and shoot at employees.  Markova is a member of the initiative committee which launched a petition in support of the security guard and the women, who were taken hostages.

"There are people defending the perpetrator and this is a surprise for us. What were his grounds to shoot a man in the second minute of the robbery? People in Stanev's native village are also upset and crying and wondering how to help," a former classmate of the injured man, Zlatka Peeva, cited by Darik radio, says.

Peeva is adamant Stefanov must receive the maximum sentence and the magistrates should not be influenced by insinuations the attacker is a "good guy in a difficult situation," adding "everyone in Bulgaria is experiencing hardships, but does not rob and kill instead of trying to find a job."

Om March 23, Stefanov, 27, busted in the local branch of Investbank in Sliven, and shot and seriously wounded one of the security guards. The assailant took the six bank employees hostages and gradually released them with the last one being held for over 18 hours. He surrendered to the police 39 hours after the beginning of the ordeal.

Doctors from the Military Medical Academy in Sofia inform Stanev, 42, is still in very serious condition.

It was also reported that people from Stefanov's native village of Korten, near the town of Nova Zagora, have started collecting signatures in protection of the failed bank robber and are in the process of establishing an initiative committee for his defense.

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