Attorney Guthrie Allen told WPSD that Russian was aware of his actions when he and Adam Bullock got into an argument at Russian's home at Anderson Court. Investigators described the scene including a dumbbell used to knock Bullock out and the bloody staircase where at least part of the fight had occured.

Allen said Russian's statement to police indicated that he had continued attacking Bullock after both men had been knocked unconscious, saying that he "woke up and was strangling" Bullock. That, Allen said, would negate any effort to claim self-defense.

Allen called the circumstances outlined in court "a pretty good case for murder."

Noting that Russian was seen by witnesses two days later pushing a shopping cart with Bullock's body in it down to the riverfront, Allen said that is obviously evidence of a cover-up after-the-fact.