Father of minor involved in footballer murder case detained for falsifying evidence, obstruction of justice

Georgian police have detained the father of a minor identified as Z.HK, who has been charged with the premeditated murder of footballer Shakarashvili. 

• 5 charged with premeditated murder in case of deceased 19-year-old footballer
• Police uncover details of footballer’s death case, confirms detention of 17, including minors

The MIA reports that Tamaz Khomasuridze has been detained for giving false testimony, falsifying evidence and issuing threats against other individuals involved in the murder case of Shakarashvili.

19-year-old footballer Giorgi Shakarashvili went missing while at a friend’s birthday party in Mtskheta, outside of Tbilisi, on June 19. His body was found in the river of Aragvi after a four-day search, on June 22.

An official statement published by MIA reads that Tamaz Khomasuridze threatened to kill Guram Amirkhanashvili – one of the witnesses in the murder case and Iakob Bregvadze, a photographer who attended the birthday party, as well as Giorgi Shakarashvili's uncle Mirian Nikoladze. The detainee systematically threatened  the latter through social media.

The MIA also reports that Tamaz Khomasuridze generated false evidence by having a friend purchase two unregistered mobile phones and three cards, then asking him to send pre-agreed text messages to Amirkhanashvili. The detainee engaged in similar other acts to distort the facts of the case. 

An official statement published by MIA reads that the detainee gave false testimony to the court in connection with the above mentioned episodes.

• Prosecutor’s Office: '19-year-old footballer Shakarashvili’s death was caused by drowning'

On August 11, minor Z.KH., and four other detainees were charged with the premeditated murder of Shakarashvili.