Scene of the attack
Photo: TPS
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Supreme Court shortens sentence of teen Palestinian terrorist
Court mitigates punishment of 14-year-old terrorist from 12 years to 9.5, citing positive report by the probation service on the progress of his rehabilitation process; terrorist seriously wounded a 13-year-old Israeli teen and a 21-year-old Israeli man in stabbing attack in Pisgat Ze'ev.
The Supreme Court on Thursday shortened the sentence of a 14-year-old Palestinian terrorist who stabbed an Israeli teen his age and another man in Jerusalem's Pisgat Ze'ev in October 2015.
A 13-year-old Israeli teen and a 21-year-old Israeli man were seriously wounded in the attack.
The teen terrorist was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The Supreme Court accepted his appeal and shortened his sentence to nine-and-a-half years.
bbb.jpg "The teen terrorist")
The teen terrorist
Judge David Mintz determined that while the terrorist's actions were grave, "he has so far gone a long way in his rehabilitation."
In October 2015, the terrorist, who was then 13, made the trip from the Arab east Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina to the nearby Jewish neighborhood of Pisgat Ze'ev with his 15-year-old cousin. Armed with 15cm-long kitchen knives, they stabbed a 21-year-old man and a 13-year-old teen who was riding his bike.
The cousin also tried to attack police officers who arrived at the scene, but was shot dead. The younger attacker was wounded and arrested.
"Despite the fact the appellant's conviction of attempted murder was lawful, one must not ignore the fact his role in the incident was minor compared to that of (his cousin)," Judge Mintz wrote in his ruling. "In addition, one must take into account the appellant's young age, the rehabilitation process he is undergoing, and the opinions filed in his case. Furthermore, an expert opinion by the probation service recommends mitigating the appellant's punishment and shortening the prison sentence given to him."
In his decision, the judge cited "the insights the appellant is showing concerning the offenses he committed, his orderly behavior while in detention and now in prison, and the probation service's impression that a long imprisonment would have undesirable effects on him."
