School Killings: Key Witness Sent to Pre-trial Custody

Mikheil Kalandia, one of the key witnesses in the school murder case who was sent to pre-trial detention today.

Tbilisi Court decided to charge Kalandia with premeditated murder of 16-year-old schoolboy David Saralidze yesterday.

David Saralidze was killed alongside Levan Dadunashvili following a fight at a school in Tbilisi in December 2017.

The case caused outrage in Georgia after the court failed to confirm who killed Saralidze. One minor known as G.J. was sentenced to “attempted murder” of Saralidze, whilst G.B. was sentenced to murder for killing Levan Dadunashvili.

On 3 June, the Court of Appeals found G.J. guilty of murdering Saralidze, whilst also confirming that other individuals were involved in his death.

Kalandia, who changed his testimony several times during the investigation, has denied the charges. His family believes that the government is trying to prove a political point ahead of the 2020 elections.

Saralidze’s father Zaza Saralidze, who has protested for months for justice for his son, said: “justice has been factually restored.”

By Amy Jones

Photo source - OC Media