Judge Ousted an Attorney from Levan Gogichaishvili’s Trial

Judge Davit Jugheli ousted Levan Gogichaishvili’s attorney Malkhaz Jangirashvili from Levan Gogichaishvili’s court hearing which was being held in Tbilisi City Court.

Malkhaz Jangirashvili told about this himself. He said that the judge accused him of insulting the court.  However, according to him he had not insulted the court.

“We were requesting 9 days to prepare for our opening statement. The Judge denied  this request. Then I said that all this was ridiculous. The judge considered that I insulted the court by saying the word ‘ridiculous’ and he ordered me to leave the court hearing,” said Jangirashvili. Heclaimed that the judge wants  Gogichaishvili  not to be granted a full-fledged defense.

“The judge had planned to dismiss me from the case and used the word ‘ridiculous’ as a ground. Gogichaishvili is detained illegally and the judge wants  Gogichaishvili not to be granted full-fledged defense,” said Jangirashvili and noted that the court hearing continued after ousting him. Another attorney for Gogichaishvili remained at the hearing. The judge gave time for preparing the opening statement till Tuesday. Consequently, the court hearing will be renewed on Tuesday. It will start with opening statements. A verdict might be announced the same day.

The prosecutor’s office asks for  8 years and 6 months prison for Levan Gogichaishvili and 5 years for Giorgi Alkhazishvili who is another accused in the same case.

Davit Jugheli, a judge of Tbilisi City Court triesthe case. Gogichaishvili is accused of deliberate injury of a person and hooliganism, Giorgi Alkhazishvili is accused of hooliganism. The case against them was initiated due to an incident which occurred in June 2009 after the birthday party of Irina Batiashvili, a daughter of the famous Georgian politician Irakli Batiashvili. Davit Lezhava was injured during the incident.

Source: Interpressnews