Two young Russian brothers, ages 16 and 19, reportedly murdered a friend of theirs and, along with their mother, fried up the liver and heart, and ate them.

One wonders if they enjoyed a nice chianti with their dinner.

I wish I could say this was a joke or label it satire, but apparently it's quite real. What's more is that though the boys have been arrested for murder, the mother has not — because there is no law against cannibalism on the books in Russia. I suppose someone assumed (incorrectly) that they didn't have to make the stricture against chewing on ones' neighbors official.

Oops.

So rather than being charged with conspiracy or anything at all, the mother is being treated as a witness, according to the the Moscow Times.

"Unfortunately, there is nothing in the criminal code that addresses cannibalism, and she didn't take part in the murder," [deputy prosecutor] Yudin said. "She is now considered strictly a witness in the case."

Apparently, the murder occurred on November 3, 2005, after the two brothers and their friend got drunk and argued over a stolen stereo. Sergei and Igor Zimbovich strangled the victim, 26 year old Mikhail Sheremet with a scarf and set out to dismember the body. Because, y'know, it's a lot easier to dispose of chunks of your pals rather than the entire set.

Dear old mom walked in on the scene, and instead of keeling over from a heart attack, screeching, calling the police, or even grounding her sons, she instead reportedly suggested that they throw down on the deceased innards.

What a lovely picture of domesticity! Mom and sons, laughing and chatting over a meal with their dinner guest. Or rather, a meal of their dinner guest.

What I find most surprising is that the Rostov region of Russia actually has, according to the same story in the Moscow Times, a famous cannibal (Andrei Chikatilo, who raped, murdered, and munched on 52 victims between 1978 and 1991... 52!), and yet there is no law against cannibalism. Apparently, there's not yet been a case in which the eater did not do the actual killing.

You gotta wonder if the locals aren't gonna maybe start up a petition or something after this one blows over. Either that, or I'd watch my back if the price of groceries goes up.