Court convicts soldier, Arabs of failing to prevent 'lynch'
Tel Aviv court finds Or Levy, three Arab-Israeli men guilty of not attempting to stop brutal murder of Leonard Karp in 2009
IDF soldier Or Levy and three young Arab-Israeli men were convicted Wednesday for neglecting to prevent a crime during the brutal killing of Leonard (Arik) Karp in August 2009, describe by some as outright lynching.
The defendants, Fadi Jaber, Fuad Musa, Mahmud Ades and Levy, were convicted for standing by and not doing anything while their friends attacked and killed Karp.
The four confirmed the facts presented in the indictment, yet their attorneys claimed these facts do not amount to a felony because the four did not know about the brawl beforehand. According to attorneys, the four had no time to act against their friends while facing a spontaneous incident that began far away from the defendants.
The lawyers also claimed the defendants did not chase Karp when he tried to run away.
Soldier Or Levy in court (Photo: Dudu Azulay)
Judge Mordechai Peled rejected the claims made by the defense and ruled all four accused should have intervened to try and stop the violent act. "Extreme evil was unfolding before their eyes and they had a duty to get up and intervene," ruled Peled.
The judge added that because all four were convicted of neglecting to prevent a crime there is no reason to also convict them of breaking the Good Samaritan Law.
Tel Aviv District Attorney Menachem Mizrahi said: "The court has reached a unique judicial ruling regarding norms of conduct. From now on one cannot see a violent act and not do anything about it. We don't expect citizens to become superheroes, but a phone call to the police is sufficient. A citizen must do this. It's not enough to yell in a subdued voice. The girl who shouted didn't do enough, she could have picked up the phone. Eventually she chose to join the others and have a drink with the rest of her friends."
However, one defense attorney said he plans to appeal the ruling: "It's a precedent instructing all Israeli citizens who see a crime... to endanger themselves."
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