Botley stab victim named as Leonid Laboshin

Leonid Laboshin died after he was attacked at a house in Pinnocks Way, Botley, on Sunday night.  

A man has been arrested and charged with murder and is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court today.  

Mr Laboshin has been described by neighbours as a 'clever bloke' and a talented pianist. He worked for an Oxfordshire-based IT company.  

Mr Laboshin's death comes less than two weeks after Lee Butler was fatally injured in Barton. 

Paying tribute to him, his employers told the Oxford Mail: “Leonid was a valued member of our team and a friend as well as a colleague, we are shocked and saddened by his loss. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.”  

READ MORE: 

• Man charged with murder in Botley appears in court
• Everything we know about the Botley murder investigation so far
• Residents on quiet residental street 'terrified' in wake of killing

Speaking earlier this week, one neighbour described Mr Laboshin as a 'clever bloke' who was a keen pianist.

Leonid Laboshin

Another neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said: “My partner used to say he could hear the piano playing when he walked past and he was so talented.”

Mr Laboshin had been working in Oxford since September 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior, he held the position of associate scientist for five years at Peter the Great St. Petersburg University where he previously completed his masters in computer science. He was also named as an author on five academic papers.

Thames Valley Police offered its condolences to the victim's family on behalf of the force, saying: "Our thoughts remain with his family at this difficult time and we continue to support them."

A man has been charged with murder in connection with Mr Laboshin's death and appeared in court on Thursday.

Eugen Coman, 33, is accused of stabbing the 31-year-old at 100 Pinnocks Way, Botley, on Sunday evening.

READ MORE:

• Stabbings in Oxford are NOT linked, police say
• THREE knife attacks in TWO WEEKS - what are police doing about it? 

He also faces allegations he was in possession of two knives in Barrington Close, Witney, on the same day.

Appearing before Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon, Coman, of Pinnocks Way, Oxford, entered no pleas to the allegations. 

Shaven-headed Coman, wearing a grey tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his name, address, and date of birth. 

Outside Pinnocks Way

Chairman of the bench John Kearsley said he would be remanded in custody to appear before Oxford Crown Court today (Friday).

The court heard Coman also faces allegations he was in possession of a loaded air rifle and a lock knife in Halsey Road, Kempston, Bedfordshire, on April 11, 2020, and inflicting grievous bodily harm on a Roman Rabinski in Bedford. 

Prosecutor Ann Sawyer-Brandish said Coman was alleged to have repeatedly hit a rent collector over the head with an air rifle.

The matters were sent to Luton Crown Court, with a hearing expected to take place on a date to be fixed. 

Coman was represented at the hearing, which lasted less than five minutes, by Brid Eve.

The defendant thanked the magistrates as he was taken from the dock. 

-

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on news@nqo.com or 01865 425 445.