'No justice.' Milham (Archives)
צילום: רוני שיצר
Officer who killed Israeli-Arab acquitted
Haifa court finds officer's self-defense claim believable, deceased man's father says 'there was no justice here to begin with; it is all a sham'
A Border Guard officer who shot and killed a Wadi Ara man during a police chase in January 2006 was acquitted of manslaughter on Monday.
During the incident, Rubi Gal and a number of other officers arrived at 28-year-old Nadim Milham's home in Ar'ara to search it for weapons.
According to the indictment, Milham fled the house with gun in hand and ran towards a nearby road. One of the officers fired a warning shot into the air after Milham did not heed their calls to stop.
Gal, who fired two shots in Milham's back and knee, claimed he fired out of self-defense after Milham threatened one of his comrades with a loaded gun.
Judge Oded Gershon of the Haifa District Court found Gal's argument believable.
The incident sparked riots in the Wadi Ara area. Residents claiming that Milham was essentially murdered blocked roads and threw stones.
Milham's family members cried out in pain after hearing the verdict. "There was no justice here to begin with; it is all a sham," his father, Jamal, said. "They are liars and murderers. Milham was murdered while he was sleeping in his home. We demand that justice be served." Other relatives threatened Gal.
