Employees of LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau, as well as citizens of Georgia, are saddened by the tragic death of Giorgi Shakarashvili. On behalf of the Bureau’s staff, we would like to convey sincere condolences to the deceased family.
Due to high public interest, the media provides a detailed coverage of this high-profile case, actively discussing issues related to forensic medical examination and other types of expertise.
Numerous versions of the case spread around that unfortunately have nothing to do with the truth.
As is known, the National Forensic Bureau does not usually make public statements regarding specific forensic examinations. This primarily aims at protecting interests of a person/institution requesting the examination (investigation, other parties in the process, citizens). The expert report is subject to the customer’s (in this case, investigative authority) exclusive disposal and the Bureau is not authorized to hand it over (or to confess its content) to third parties, except for the cases prescribed by law i.e. the relevant court ruling.
The forensic examination report on the death of Giorgi Shakarashvili has been made public. As certain details of this conclusion have been misinterpreted by different individuals, which has raised some public questions, the Bureau explains:
The circumstance indicated in the on-site inspection report, according to which “postmortem rigidity of Giorgi Shakarashvili's body was present in all muscle groups”, is not a mechanical error and does not contradict to the time since death and other facts substantiated in the examination report.
Specifically, on 22 June 2020, at the request of the investigative authority and in accordance with the at the request of investigating authority and current procedural legislation, a forensic medical expert of the Bureau, participated in the inspection of Giorgi Shakarashvili's body on the site where the body had been discovered (the investigative action started on 22.06.2020, 15:05). The expert carried out an external examination of the corpse, evaluated postmortem changes and stiffening of the body, and found that postmortem rigidity was expressed in all muscle groups.
Subsequently, forensic medical examination of the corpse was conducted in the Medical Examination Department at the National Forensic Bureau (the examination started at 19:15 on 22.06.2020). During the examination, postmortem changes and postmortem rigidity of Giorgi Shakarashvili’s body were reevaluated and it has been found that the "postmortem rigidity" had already dissipated at the time of examination.
As mentioned above, the postmortem rigidity revealed during the external examination of the corpse does not contradict to the findings of the forensic medical examination report. Therefore, we found it necessary to provide explanations on this issue from forensic textbooks.
Quote:
"The process of stiffening of the body proceeds intensively and involves all muscle groups at the end of the first 24 hours. The muscles remain rigid for an average of 1-2 days, after which the rigidity gradually starts to dissipate i.e. muscles relax. The development or dissipation of the stiffening largely depends on the temperature of the environmental conditions. For example, at room temperature, muscle relaxation usually develops at the end of two days or the beginning of the third day. At low temperatures, the rigidity is maintained for a longer period of time. " (See: Teimuraz Gordeladze. Doctor Pathologist, Forensic Doctor, Doctor of Medicine, Academician, Professor. Handbook - Forensic Medicine. Tbilisi 2008)
Quote:
“Postmortem rigidity generally peaks within 24 hours, then the muscles gradually begin to relax and the rigidity dissipates after 2 or 3 days ... Postmortem rigidity is closely related to a number of internal and external factors. In cold conditions, postmortem rigidity develops slower and lasts even days and weeks longer. Autolysis and decomposition of the corpse result in the rapid dissipation of rigidity, which occurs when the corpse is at a high temperature ... ".
(See: Besik Kilasonia. Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor. Academician of the Georgian Academy of Medical Sciences, President of the Georgian Association of Forensic Doctors. Handbook - Forensic Medicine. Tbilisi 2011).
Concerning other issues related to the examination report, which have also been the subject of mixed interpretations, we will not go into details, as it includes a large number of specific explanations and goes far beyond the format of a single public statement. However, bone fractures, including skull base fractures are subject to high interest. Accordingly, we would like to explain that the presence of orbital hemorrhages does not necessarily point to the broken skull base.
The detailed direct visual examination of skull bones carried out during the medical examination clearly determined that the skull-base was not broken. X-ray examination is required only when it is not possible to visually examine the area directly.
The National Forensic Bureau employs highly qualified experts whose competence and good faith have been recognized for decades in local and international professional circles.
Last but not least, we appeal to the community to note that forensics is a field of science requiring special knowledge and relevant experience. Thus, we assure you that the National Forensic Bureau and its experts do their best to provide accurate and valid answers to the questions within their competence.