BBC Radio 4 news this evening 24th October 2007.

At the very least, a life sentence is being sought for a Russian serial killer who has been charged with 48 counts of murder. Alexandr Petriuskin also known as the Bitsevski Maniac, named after the park in which he committed his crimes, claims he has at least eleven more victims to his tally.  By my arithmetic that would add up to a grand total of 59 killings.  It is said that this man was aiming to kill  at least as manay people as there are figures on a chess board, sixty four. 

Petriuskin was described as Russia's greatest serial killer. 

I would say, that dubious status has already been accorded to Joseph Stalin.