US Consul calls life imprisonment for Malkhaz Kobauri “fair decision”

According to US Consul in Georgia Janet Reber, the court made a fair decision to sentence Malkhaz Kobauri to life imprisonment.

As the Consul told reporters, the above was the request of the family of the Smiths.

She thanked the jury, the judge and all those who worked on the case.

“We were closely watching this case, we had communication with the victims’ family. The evidence did not leave space for any doubts. The family members of the Smiths support the life sentence. It was a fair trial and a fair sentence," the US Consul said.

Malkhaz Kobauri, the shepherd accused of murdering three members of the Smiths family in Khada Gorge, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The guilty verdict against Malkhaz Kobauri was delivered by the jury on March 25, after a 4-hour consultation. Kobauri was convicted by the jury unanimously, including of raping Lora Smith.