Sofia City Court sentenced Georgi Petkov to seven years in prison for the murder of taxi driver Emil Emilov.

Petkov will also have to pay 70 000 leva to the relatives of the murdered driver.

The verdict can be appealed in 15 days before the court of appeal

Emilov was found dead on February 9 2007. He was stabbed with a knife. Petkov confessed the crime and pleaded guilty, hence the fast court procedure.

The murder resulted in mass protests of taxi drivers. They blocked traffic in Sofia and protested in front of the National Assembly building demanding better working conditions and more safety.