Lee Zeitouni's killers sentenced to prison in France.
5 years in prison for Lee Zeitouni's killer
French driver who fled Israel after running over Zeitouni sentenced to 5 years with no parole; Khayat, who sat in passanger seat, handed 15-month jail term.
Three years after Lee Zeitouni, 25, was killed by a hit-and-run car accident in Tel Aviv, the driver of the car who killed her and fled the scene, Eric Robic, was sentenced to five years in prison by a French court on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Claude Isaa Khayat, who was sitting in the passenger seat during the hit-and-run and later fled to France with Robic, was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Friends of Lee Zeitouni outside of French court where her killers were tried. (Photo: AFP)
The French court also determined that Robic and Khayat would not be eligible for parole. Furthermore, the two men had their licenses revoked and will have to pay heavy fines.
Zeitouni, from the Neve Ur Kibbutz in northern Israel, was run-over and killed on September 16, 2011 while on her way to work at a fitness center in Tel Aviv.
Lee Zeitouni's parents outside the French court where the verdict for their daughter's killers was announced. (Photo: Associated Press)
Robic and Khayat, fatally hit Zeitouni with their jeep and continued driving. The two men then pulled over the jeep they were driving to check its condition, continued to Robic's apartment, bought flight tickets and flew to France by way of Switzerland.
The prosecution had requested the court sentence Robic to six years in prison and Khayat for at least one year.
Robic in court . (Photo: AFP)
Robic was tried on charges of aggravated involuntary homicide and non-assistance to a person in need while Khayat was charged with non-assistance to a person in need.
Robic's sentencing of five years in prison is a long-shot from the 10 year maximum punishment of the crime in France.
"Robic is a man who will play with the life of other people," said the prosecutor before the verdict was made. "The death of Lee Zeitouni will not end without punishment."
Lawyer Gilles-William Goldnadel, who represented Zeitouni's family in the trial, described the events leading up to the incident in the French courtroom. He noted which nightclubs the two men had attended, presented evidence showing the amount of alcohol and drugs the men consumed and referenced witness testimony describing the wild driving before the accident occurred.
"(Goldnadel) showed that the abandonment of Lee was not because of momentary panic like the two men tried to claim but rather calculated thought, which included the concealment of the vehicle and one of the men shaving his head," said a friend of Zeitouni's family.
Zeitouni's friends and family, led by her boyfriend Roy Peled, had launched an international campaign in order to bring the two French men to justice.
As part of the "Justice for Lee" campaign, Zeitouni's supporters protested at each event in Israel in which there was a French representative – the president, ambassador, ministers, mayors and even artists.
