Robbery has been named as the motive behind the murder of Australian teacher Shanae Brooke Edwards in Tbilisi in late July.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office stated earlier today that the suspect, Georgian citizen Rafel Mursakulov, has been charged with armed robbery and intentional homicide which is punishable by 16-20 years in prison or life imprisonment.
The Prosecutor's Office said that Mursakulov attacked Brooke Edwards in central Tbilisi at about 16:00 on July 30 to take away her personal belongings.
The Prosecutor’s Office said that Shanae Brooke Edwards had an injury on her neck and that she had been strangled.
Mursakulov took her belongings and tried to conceal the crime. He covered the body with twigs and threw away a knife,” said the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.
Mursakulov dies accusations against him.
Mursakulov was arrested on September 8 and denies the allegations against him and is using his right to silence.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has stated that more than 200 individuals have been questioned in the investigation.
Investigators have also found the weapon used in the crime – a knife in damaged condition at the crime scene.
All the evidence, including DNA samples, point at the guilt of the detainee,” said the ministry.
Shanae Brooke Edwards, who went missing on July 30 afternoon after going hiking in Mtatsminda park in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, was found dead on July 31.
She was an English teacher who had come to Georgia about two years ago.
The Georgian government will cover the transportation expenses of her body to Australia.