Lawyer refuses to defend suspect in brutal murder case of Smith family

Independent lawyer David Girgvliani, who had previously defended the interests of 19-year-old Malkhaz Kobauri, the accused in the murder of Ryan and Lora Smith and their 4-year-old son in Khada Gorge of Georgia early this month, says that he is no longer the man’s lawyer.

In his special statement Girgvliani did not name an exact reason, only stated that he has always "fought against illegalities and his goal was to establish the truth” concerning the case.

However, his statement came shortly after the reports of two main Georgian TV channels - Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV, that they had obtained the autopsy conclusion which read that "Kobauri’s genetic profile was found in Lora Smith’s body”, which would point to Lora Smith’s having been raped before death. 

"I refuse to continue to participate in the case. I wish success to those who will defend Kobauri’s interests,” Girgvliani said.

A Mtskheta court in eastern Georgia sent shepherd Kobauri to pre-trial detention on July 11 for the brutal murder of the Smith Family on July 4.

Kobauri does not admit to the crime and speaks about "two foreigners” who killed the family.

The case prosecutor says that a verbal dispute between Kobauri and Ryan Smith emerged because of the rifle the shepherd had with him.

Ryan Smith made a remark to him that he had not acted cautiously with the weapon, especially in the presence of the child,” prosecutor David Kazarashvili told the court.

Kazarashvili said that during the dispute Kobauri shot Ryan Smith, while Lora Smith tried to escape and fell down from a cliff.

The prosecutor did not mention rape during the trial, but the Interior Ministry confirmed in its previous statements that the alleged rape of Lora Smith was also being investigated.

Kobauri himself showed the site to the police where the child’s body was buried.

Kobauri is facing life imprisonment if a judge delivers a guilty verdict against him.