Court seeks more jail time for Hurndall killer
Military prosecutor pushing for tougher sentence for IDF soldier convicted of killing British photographer in Rafah in 2003, arguing that initial 8-year prison sentence insufficient
The Military Advocate General pushed for a tougher sentence for an IDF soldier convicted of killing a British citizen in Rafah in 2003, arguing that initial 8-year prison sentence is insufficient.
Prosecutors demanded Taysir Hayb, who shot and killed British photographer Tom Hurndall in Gaza nearly three years ago, be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment instead of the initial 8 years, while defense lawyers demanded the sentence be reduced to three years.
Hurndall was shot in the head during a demonstration in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in April 2003, and died in January 2004 after never having regained consciousness.
'8 years is really very little'
Col. Nir Aviram, who headed the panel of judges, wrote, “When he (Hayb) served on the Philadelphi Route during heavy fighting, he shot a single unwarranted shot. That shot hit an innocent person, who suffered for nine months because of that shot.
The judges said the accused, “lied about a string of events in order to avoid responsibility for his actions,” and said Hayb acted against IDF ethos.
One IDF prosecutor told Ynet, “This is the heaviest sentence to be handed down for something that happened during the intifada for manslaughter.
Once I study the judgment and consider the judges considerations, I’ll consider whether or not to appeal.”
Hurndall’s mother, Jocelyn, said following the sentence "eight years is really very little if one takes international law into account."
She told the ITV News Channel the family was considering a civil claim.
