Nun claims his son ‘wrongly charged’ with murder of Shatalova, plans hunger strike

Nato Shengelia, mother of Beka Lataria, who has been recently charged with premeditated murder of Russian citizien Anastasia Shatalova in Tbilisi last week, claims that his son is innocent and says she will go on hunger strike if Lataria is found guilty. 

Shengelia cites his son as saying that he did not know the woman. 

Lataria, who has previous crime records, does not admit to the crime and also dismmmisess additional accusations on possesion of drugs. 

Police say that Lataria fired several shots at Shatalova on October 18, while two others help him to flee. 

The law enforcers aslo say that they confiscated heroin in large quiontities from Lataria’s home. 

Premediated murder is punishable up to 15 years in prsion, while drug dealing – up to 20 years in prsion, or sometimes, even life imprisonement. 

Shatalova, who had a legal dispute with former vice-mayor of Batumi, stated that the ex-official focrcibly took away their child and broke his promise on marriage. 

Police has not yet identified a motive behind the crime.