State reaches settlement with Jack Teitel
Teitel's lawyers to confess to murder on his behalf as part of new deal; court set to rule on whether 'Jewish terrorist' can be held accountable for his actions
The State has reached a settlement with the attorneys representing Jack Teitel, who is charged with the murder of two Palestinians and a line of nationalistically-motivated battery counts. The Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office and Teitel's attorneys informed the Jerusalem District Court of the settlement as part of which the lawyers will confess to the murders on Teitel's behalf.
According to the deal, a revised indictment omitting information from the original indictment will be re-filed. In an unusual step, Teitel's attorneys Ahser Ohayon and Michael Aharoni will confess on Teitel's behalf to two counts of murder as he refuses to acknowledge the court's jurisdiction.
Related stories:
- Court: Jack Teitel fit to stand trial
- Teitel indicted for murder, attempted murder
- Teitel's associates: He's gone mad
Teitel was arrested in November 2009 and charged with 14 counts reflecting 12 years of terrorist activity. He is accused of murdering an Arab taxi driver and a shepherd in 1997.
After the indictment is filed, Teitel's defense team is slated to argue their client is not responsible for his actions. The State will argue Teitel was aware of his actions at the time of the crime and is fit for trial.
The new indictment will likely not address the part which states that the defendant's actions were motivated by his hate and objection to people and groups whose lifestyle contradicts his beliefs.
The settlement means there will be no trial which will spare the court of time spent listening to testimonies and holding hearings. Teitel's lawyers hope that the new indictment will help them prove their client was not responsible for his actions.
The deal will be presented in court in one month's time and the court will then discuss whether Teitel can be held accountable for his actions. If he is found accountable, Teitel can expect to serve several life sentences, otherwise he will likely be admitted to a psychiatric facility.
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