Saint Petersburg students react as Russian historian in court for grisly murder The case of prominent Napoleon expert Oleg Sokolov is drawing fresh attention to violence against women in Russia, including in academic circles but which critics say the authorities are not taking the issue seriously. Sokolov, a 63-year-old who taught history at Saint Petersburg University, has confessed to murdering his 24-year-old lover and former student and dismembering her body. Calls for an investigation into his alleged abuse of female students is growing. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES