Georgia, Tbilisi, Sept. 20 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
Trial by jury will come into force for the first time in Georgia from Oct. 1 in a pilot scheme in Tbilisi. Initially, juries made up of twelve Georgian citizens will consider cases of murder with aggravating circumstances brought under the 109th article of the Criminal Code.
"At the initial stage the trials will be held in the Tbilisi City Court. This is a pilot process and trial by jury will address the most serious crimes," the first deputy chairman of the Supreme Court, Zaza Meishvili, said.
Next year the Tbilisi City Court will hear cases committed in eastern Georgia and the Kutaisi City Court will hear cases committed in western Georgia, he added.
Citizens excluded from jury duty include politicians, persons working in law enforcement agencies, lawyers, psychologists, psychiatrists and priests.
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