Dana Bennett
Photo: Effi Sharir
Dana Bennett murder trial opens
Nazareth District Court begins legal proceedings in gruesome murder of 18-year-old girl from Tiberias. State decides to try prime suspect Farkhan, accomplice Y. separately
The Dana Bennett murder trial began Thursday at the Nazareth District Court. The legal proceedings are to be heard by two judges, as the State Prosecutor's Office decided to try Yihya Farkhan, the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of the 18-year-old Dana Bennett, and Y., his alleged accomplice, separately.
Dana Bennett went missing in 2003, near Tiberias. Her remains were found in mid May and Farkhan was arrested shortly afterwards. The police allege that he confessed to the murder, as well as to killing at least three other people.
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Farkhan's first statement to the court was to point the finger at Y: "I didn’t kill anyone, she did it all by herself."
Y., who was 15 at the time of the murder, is considered to be the one who broke the case, eventually allowing the police to arrest Farkhan and find Bennett's remains.
Attorney Isam Tanos, who is representing Y., entered a "not guilty" plea on behalf of his client, saying he has yet to receive all the relevant material from the prosecution.
