“From my perspective, I cannot say that, due to his mental condition, he fully understood the actions he is accused of committing. A relevant medical examination will be conducted in this regard,” Irakli Absandze, the lawyer of Nika Kapanadze, who was detained over the murder of a 17-year-old boy and the shooting of three other people in Vera, said.

According to the lawyer, his client has been charged under four articles.

“He is charged with the attempted murder of three people under aggravating circumstances, murder under aggravating circumstances, carrying a firearm, and attempted murder of a police officer. From my perspective, I cannot say that, due to his mental condition, he fully understood the actions he is accused of committing. A relevant medical examination will be conducted in this regard.

“As for what he said regarding the charges and whether he admits to the crime, I will refrain from commenting. Regardless of whether I speak positively or negatively about him, in either case, there will be public anger toward him,” the lawyer said.

Asked whether the defendant admits to the crime, the lawyer said that Kapanadze is currently exercising his right to remain silent and therefore did not specify whether he admits guilt.

“He is exercising his right to remain silent, of course. Based on what I have observed and assessed, I have doubts as to whether he was aware of the actions he is accused of committing,” the lawyer said.

Regarding the firearm, Absandze said that the defendant had the right to purchase and possess the weapon, but apparently did not have the right to carry it, which is why taking the firearm outside became part of the charges.

“He had the right to purchase and possess the firearm, but apparently not the right to carry it. When he moved outside with the firearm, it was considered carrying it,” the lawyer said.

According to the lawyer, the defendant is aware of the young man’s death because he has been informed of the content of the charges against him.

“Of course, he knows about the young man’s death. It is written in the charges that were presented to him. We presented the charges to him and spoke with him, so he is aware of their content. Accordingly, if he knows the content of the charges and what the prosecution is alleging, of course he knows,” the lawyer said.

Regarding the circumstances of the arrest and the amputation of the defendant’s finger, Absandze said he could not provide detailed comments at this stage because he had not yet fully reviewed the case materials.

“If we consider that he has been charged under Article 19 and Article 353¹, Part 3, which means that he resisted police officers and attempted to take their lives, the defendant’s position is that he does not want to discuss this. I have not yet reviewed the case materials. Once I have fully familiarized myself with them, I will be able to answer questions,” the lawyer said.