Judge acquits 'scapegoat' in trial over lawyer's death

Sergei Magnitsky's 2009 death has led to allegations of rights abuses from the US and a legislative war between Moscow and Washington.

He was arrested on suspicion of tax evasion by the officials he had earlier accused of using false tax documents to steal £140 million from the state.

He died in jail after his pancreatitis went untreated and an investigation by Russia's presidential council on human rights concluded he was severely beaten and denied medical treatment.

Prison doctor Dmitry Kratov was the only person to face trial and Judge Tatyana Neverova said she found no evidence that his negligence could have caused Mr Magnitsky's death.

The lawyer's family has described the trial as a sham, saying Mr Kratov played a only minor role in the death and that officials responsible must face justice.

Bill Browder, the owner of Mr Magnitsky's law firm, said: "The fact that the Russian authorities can't even scapegoat their one scapegoat says everything about this case."

The case has sparked tit-for-tat reprisals between Russia and the US.

Washington passed the Magnitsky law this month calling for sanctions against Russians implicated in rights abuses and the Duma responded in kind.

President Vladimir Putin today signed a law barring US citizens from adopting Russian children.