Trial Begins for Alleged School Hostage-Taker

The sole known survivor from the militant group whose raid on a school in southern Russia left more than 330 hostages dead went on trial in a courtroom packed with his accusers.

Nur-Pashi Kulayev, who faces terrorism, murder and other charges, reportedly has confessed to participating in the Sept. 1-3 raid but has insisted that he killed no one.

Most of the two dozen or so spectators in the small courtroom in the capital of the North Ossetia region where Beslan is located were women dressed in black and wearing head scarves. Many wiped tears. “You’re a beast!” one man shouted at the defendant.