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Erez Efrati
Photo: Yaron Brener

IDF chief's bodyguard seeks plea bargain

Prosecution, defense in Captain Erez Efrati's rape trial discuss plea which would keep plaintiff from testifying. Latter has yet to agree, as plea means lesser charges against her assailant

The prosecution and the defense in the case of IDF Captain Erez Efrati, a former bodyguard of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi who is accused of attempted rape, are reportedly trying to reach a plea bargain.

 

Any plea bargain, however, will see the charges against Efrati reduced, a move to which the plaintiff objects. Efrati was indicted for sexual assault, attempted rape and attempted sodomy with aggravated circumstances .

 

So far, he has pled guilty to sexual assault, but said he was under the influence of alcohol during the act.

 

The plaintiff is set to take the stand for the first time on Tuesday. The defense is trying to reach a plea bargain in order to prevent her from testifying.

 

Should negotiations mature into a plea bargain, the prosecution will drop the attempted rape charge and the aggravated circumstances provision for the sodomy offence.

 

Sources in the State Prosecutor's Office said the final decision on whether to pursue the plea bargain, and as a result revise the indictment, is the plaintiff's to make.

 

Sources close to the young woman told Ynet that "this is a very hard situation for her. She is not afraid of testifying. She's willing to take the stand… Right now, she's unwilling to consider any change in the indictment. This is important to her. She plans on taking the stand tomorrow."

 

According to the indictment, at 4:45 am, November 28, 2009, Efrati followed the young woman as she was waling into the Reading parking lot, near the Tel Aviv Port.

 

She noticed him, hastened her steps and was able to get into her car. however, before she was able to start the car, Efrati made his way to the vehicle, opened the door and forcibly dragged her out, towards the banks of the nearby Yarkon River.

 

"The plaintiff screamed and begged the defendant to let her of, but he grabbed onto her shoulders and continued dragging her along, muzzling her mouth with his hand and threatening to kill her if she continued yelling," said the indictment.

 

According to the case file, he dragged the plaintiff to bushes on the river bank, and attempted to sodomize her.

 

When she began screaming for help, he hit her hard enough to nearly render her unconscious, and attempted to assault her again.

 

At this point, passersby startled Efrati, who fled the scene and attempted to hide by diving into the Yarkon and swimming to the opposite bank, where he was found hiding by the police.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.14.10, 22:33
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