The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged four people with the fact of murder and robbery of a British citizen in Gori, and one person with the fact of not reporting a crime.
The investigative agency charged G.B, Z.F, G.K. and G.O. for the murder and robbery of British citizen, Thomas Kennedy on October 7.
Charges were also filed against 23-year-old Vasil Okropiridze for not reporting the crime.
“The investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed that on October 7, 2021 Z.F, G.K., G.O. and G.B. decided to rob British citizen, T.K., and told V.O about their plans, who refused to take part in the crime. On the same day, in Gori, near a railway station, at night, G.B., Z.F., G.K. And G.O. forcibly seized T.K.’s mobile phone and bank card. To cover up the crime, the defendants threw Kennedy, who was unconscious, into the River Mtkvari, as a result of which the latter died.
“After that, Z.F, G.K., G.O. and G.B. again informed V.O about the incident, who did not report this particularly serious crime to law enforcement,” reads the statement released by the Prosecutor’s Office.
The law enforcers detained Z.F, G.K., G.O. and G.B. on October 10. They face 13 to 17 years in prison, while V.O. faces 3 to 7 years in prison if convicted.
The defendants allegedly robbed and killed the 28-year-old British citizen, Thomas Kennedy, who was living in Georgia, after a confrontation occurred after they had drinks together in a cafe in Gori.
“The investigation established that on October 7 of the current year, the detainees were drinking alcohol in an underground passage in the town of Gori and were joined by a foreign citizen – Thomas Kennedy (DoB 1993). The defendants later moved together with him to a bar in Gori and continued to drink alcohol, during which a verbal confrontation took place between the currently detained persons and Kennedy. After the mentioned confrontation, the aforementioned individuals went to an area near to Mtkvari River, where Z.F., G.O., G.K. and G.B. physically assaulted Kennedy and threw him unconscious into the river to conceal evidence of the crime. The detainees fled the scene after committing the crime.
“The investigation also established that the detainee, Vasil Okropiridze was informed regarding the crime, although failed to inform the law enforcers.
“Kennedy’s body was washed ashore by the Mtkvari River on October 8 of the current year, near the village of Kvakhvreli in Gori Municipality.
“As a result of complex operative-investigative and search activities, the law enforcers identified the persons involved in the crime and arrested them.
“The fact of premeditated murder committed by a group under aggravated circumstances and not reporting a grave crime is being investigated under Article 109, Part II, Sub-paragraph “E” and Article 376, Part II of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” reported the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
By Ana Dumbadze
