Georgian resident sentenced to life imprisonment for killing Smith family
Today, the Gori District Court has sentenced shepherd Malkhaz Kobauri to life imprisonment in the case on the murder of three members of the Smith family, including a child.
On March 25, jurors unanimously found Malkhaz Kobauri guilty in the case on the murder of three members of the US Smith family.
On July 6, 2018, the Smith spouses and their four-year-old child disappeared in the Khada Gorge in the Dusheti District. Rescue team members found their bodies within three days. According to the results of the forensic examination, the defendant had sexual contact with the murdered woman and the child was shot dead at close range. After the information had been made public, an advocate of Malkhaz Kobauri refused to defend him.
At the today's court hearing, which discussed the issue of the punishment measure, the court fully supported the arguments of the Prosecutor's Office, the "News-Georgia" reports.
The court hearing was attended by US Consul to Georgia Janet Reber. She had a photograph of the US family members on her chest, the "Sputnik-Georgia" reports.
According to the edition, Malkhaz Kobauri himself categorically denies his guilt. According to him, the US family members were killed by two persons unknown to him.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 27, 2019 at 02:18 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.