Part III. Court.
On March 31, 1878, Zasulich was sentenced. By this time, it was already clear that Trepov’s condition was in no danger – despite the rather severe injury, the mayor was already on the mend. The press and society paid great attention to the process:
“In public places there were mostly ladies belonging to high society. Behind the judges, on chairs placed in two rows, were persons from the judicial department and representatives of the highest administration of all departments, between whom we noticed State Chancellor Gorchakov, State Secretary Solsky, several members of the State Council, senators, Comrade General Feldzeichmeister Barantsev, St. Petersburg Governor Lutkovsky and others. Special places were reserved for representatives of literature, where, among other things, Mr. Wallace, a correspondent for the Times newspaper, was present.
The composition of the court was as follows: chairman Koni, members Serbinovich and Den; the prosecution was supported by comrade prosecutor Kassel, and attorney-at-law Alexandrov was the defense attorney.
When the judges took their places, the defendant Vera Zasulich was brought in, poorly dressed, in black, pale and so excited that at the first questions addressed to her, her voice trembled. But, as she looked more and more closely at the situation around her, she calmed down and in the middle of the meeting even a smile appeared on her lips.”
(“Voice”, April 1, 1878)
Trepov himself did not take part in the process due to health reasons. Zasulich, without denying that she shot at the St. Petersburg mayor, refused to plead guilty:
“Defendant Zasulich expressed that she was prompted to such an act both by the arbitrariness of an administrative person with a political prisoner, and by the neglect of this issue by public opinion and the press…
Three questions were put to the jury for resolution: the first – about the guilt of the defendant Vera Zasulich in inflicting a gunshot wound on Adjutant General Trepov, the second – if she was guilty on the first question, then did she intend to cause his death by this, and the third – about the degree of infliction fulfillment of this intention…
After deliberating for half an hour, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, answering the first question in the negative and leaving the remaining questions unanswered. This decision was met with thunderous applause and shouts of “bravo,” which did not cease, despite any measures taken by the chairman…”
(“Voice”, April 1, 1878)
Zasulich emigrated immediately after the trial, then returned to Russia, left again and returned again. She published several books and died in Petrograd in 1919. Anatoly Koni, who even before the trial was one of the most famous lawyers of the Russian Empire, made a brilliant career. He was a member of the State Council, after the Bolsheviks came to power, he remained in Soviet Russia and taught at Petrograd University. Kony left memories about the Zasulich case.
According to a number of researchers, the acquittal contributed to the strengthening of revolutionary terror in Russia. In 1878-1879 the chief of gendarmes Nikolai Mezentsov, the Kharkov governor Dmitry Kropotkin and several other high-ranking officials were killed. On March 1, 1881, the Narodnaya Volya members made a successful attempt on the life of Alexander II. The death of the reformer emperor put an end to liberal reforms. Under Alexander III, among others, the judicial reform of 1864 was revised, thanks to which Zasulich’s acquittal became possible.
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