Danny Katz's murderers turned down for early release
Despite President Shimon Peres' decision to shorten their prison term by one-third, Israel Prison Service's parole committee denies appeal
Another turnabout in the case of murdered teen Danny Katz: After President Shimon Peres decided to shorten the prison term of three of teen Danny Katz’ murderers to 30 years, the parole committee of the Israel Prison Service refused to shorten their term by a third on Monday.
The committee explained its decision by saying that the pleaders did not enter a rehabilitation process and deny having executed the murder as well as the other offences they were charged with.
Therefore, states the committee, the three are still holding “the same dangerous and murderous position as when they first entered prison.”
The teen’s father, Moshe Katz, expressed his satisfaction with the decision, though knowing full well that the battle is yet to be over: “We are no relieved and very happy that the committee rejected the murderers’ appeal, but what will happen next year – when they once again ask for early release?” he told Ynet.
Katz’s father also demanded the president reconsidered his decision: “We still feel like we are fighting windmills. Our hope is that Peres will realize his decision was erroneous, draw the conclusions and change his decision in shortening these murderers prison term so as to prevent the possibility of their release from jail.”
15-year-old Danny Katz was murdered in December 1983 after leaving his Haifa home. His body was found in a cave four days after his disappearance. In 1985, the Haifa District Court convicted five Arab men of abducting and murdering the teen based on their confessions.
Following a lengthy struggle, a retrial was ordered over claims that the confessions were acquired illegally – yet the four were convicted in the second trial too.
About a year ago, President Shimon Peres commuted the sentence of three of the killers to 30 years. Katz's family petitioned the High Court of Justice against the decision, but their appeal was denied.
The three murderers recently petitioned to shorten their prison term by a third for good behavior. Had their plea been accepted, they would have soon been released, but the Israel Prison Service turned them down.
