How innocent woman’s murder was linked to KGB double killing after she was shot on doorstep in case of mistaken identity
ENJOYING a glass of wine with a friend, Karen Reed had no idea of the horror awaiting her at the front door.
The 33-year-old found herself face-to-face with a pizza delivery man, who asked her to confirm her address in Woking, Surrey.
He then pulled out a gun and shot Karen five times in cold blood before fleeing into the night.
Karen tragically couldn’t be saved – leading to a 30 year mystery over who her killer is.
Surrey Police believe she was gunned down in a case of mistaken identity following a murky KGB-linked double killing.
Karen’s Armenian brother-in-law Gagic Ter-Ogannisyan had been jailed for his part in a plot to execute a former Chechen prime minister over a blocked arms deal.
Fearful of her own life, Karen’s sister Alison Ponting – Ter-Ogannisyan’s wife – had moved into her sibling’s home in Woking.
Police believe she may have been the intended target of the professional hit at Karen’s home April 30, 1994.
The entangled web started back in the Autumn of 1992 when brothers Ruslan and Nazarbek Outsiev arrived in London.
They had planned to buy currency and passports for the Chechen government and to sell the republic’s oil to German companies.
In a bizarre twist, Alison had previously interviewed Ruslan for the BBC‘s East European service.
Her husband Ter-Ogannisyan was hired by Outsiev as a translator while he lived the high-life in London – splurging on escorts, fancy meals and trips to the casino.
Eventually the brothers settled in a luxury penthouse where they were gunned down and killed in “professional assassination”.
Ter-Ogannisyan had discovered the real purpose behind the trip and contacted two other Armenians – Nkrtitch Martirossian, a member of the Armenian KGB, and Ashot Sarkyssian.
The trio failed to convince Ruslan Outsiev to end an arms deal to purchase 2,000 Stinger surface-to-air missiles that could fracture the balance of a five-year conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Fearing these weapons would be given to bolster their enemies, he was shot three times in the head at point blank range, while his brother was also slaughtered.
Ter-Ogannisyan was given two life sentences in 1993 for the two murders.
Then, six months later, Karen was enjoying a glass of wine with a friend when her doorbell went at around 9.15pm.
The geophysicist spoke to a man holding a blue and white pizza box and told him she had not ordered any food.
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Her British sister, Alison Pointing, was married to Armenian Gagic Ter-Ogrannsyan.
Armenia believed Ruslan Outsiev, the self- styled premier of the Chechen republic, was in London to buy 2,000 Stinger surface-to-air missiles.
The Christian country feared these would be used against it in its war with the Chechens’ fellow Muslims in Azerbaijan.
Mkritch Martirossian, an Armenian KGB agent living in the UK, appealed to Ruslan Outsiev not to go ahead with the arms deal.
When this plea fell on deaf ears, Ter-Ogrannsyan was drafted in to set up the murder.
On February 26, 1993, Outsiev was blasted in the head with a Beretta pistol at his London penthouse. His brother Nazerbeck was killed tow days later.
Although it was never confirmed who pulled the trigger, Ter-Ogrannsyan was convicted and handed two life sentences.
KGB agent Martirossian hanged himself in his prison cell while awaiting trial.
Police believe the Chechen republic may have wanted bloody revenge so set their sights on Karen’s sister Alison as a target.
When Karen answered the door, it was her that was shot dead instead.
When asked to confirm her address, the bogus delivery driver opened fire. Her murder bore all the hallmarks of a professional hit.
Police believe he had attempted to carry out the shooting two weeks earlier but fled when he saw cops.
Officers searched his abandoned red Vauxhall Cavalier and discovered a gun fitted with a silencer and commando knife.
They also found a map to the estate where Karen lived, a black Delsey Bag plus a rare Olney blue tartan cap.
The killer was described as tall, dark-haired and wearing glasses.
Police have taken 1,700 statements and pursued over 3,000 lines of enquiry but he has never been found.
In a fresh appeal, they said: “The investigation remains ongoing and we continue to appeal for information to find her killer and those involved.
“We have always believed that this murder was a contract killing and a case of mistaken identity.
“If you have any information that could help this investigation, please contact our Operation Lilac team on 01483 639969.
“You can also contact us via our webchat on our website www.surrey.police.uk or via 101.
“Alternatively, if you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
