Homicide of Wife-Husband in the Old Georgian Law

Abstract

Present article refers to the issue of homicide of wife-husband in the old Georgian law. Objective of the article is to determine, how the homicide of wife/husband was regulated in the old Georgian law, to define the relevant norms prohibiting such a crime and distinguish the responsibilities of spouses. For the achievement of set objective, it is necessary to study direct (positive, ecclesiastic and customary law norms) and indirect (hagiographic and historical monuments) sources of the law. As a result, it is defined, that according to the old Georgian law, homicide of wife/husband is a crime. Georgian Positive law is familiar with the general composition of wife’s murder as well as separates the issue of murder of adulterous wife (including catching on the offence and committing crime based on the latter motive). It is a crime to murder husband; this type of murder is considered under the law of Vakhtang VI and the Armenian law.