Bennett murder case: Accomplice to strike plea bargain

State agrees to amend charges against woman implicated in teenager's killing from murder to accessory to murder as part of plea agreement; set to demand 14-year prison sentence

Hagai Einav|Published: 12.02.09 , 22:36

The Northern District Prosecution agreed Wednesday to amend the charges filed against Y., a woman implicated in the Dana Bennett murder case, from murder to accessory to murder.

Y. is currently standing trial for her part in the murder of the Tiberias teenager, who went missing in 2003. Her remains were found in mid May and a subsequent police investigation led to Y.'s arrest, as well as the arrest of Yihya Farkhan, the prime suspect in the murder.

Farkhan is also currently standing trial. He faces first degree murder charges in the Bennett case, as well as several others.

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The prosecution and the defense struck the deal after Y.'s attorney, Issam Tannous, presented the court with evidence which may lead to her release should the trial continue.

According to Tannous, his client, whose initial confession led to the breakthrough the police needed, "was misled by the police. She trusted the police to look after her interests in exchange for her testimony. Her confession was based on the assumption that she would be represented by the police, as part of the investigating team."

The prosecution rejected the claims and entered into evidence Y's initial testimony: She was asked if she wanted to retain the services of a private attorney or should one be appointed by the Public Defender's Office to represent her. Her answer was "I don't want a private lawyer or a public defender. I see the seriousness of what I was a part of when I was 15. I understand it now."

The prosecution eventually agreed to plea the case in order to cut the legal proceeding short and ensure Y. will serve a prison sentence for her part in the murder.

The State is expected to demand a prison sentence of up to 14 years, providing Y. admits to two counts of accessory to murder – one for her part in the Bennett case, and the other for her part in the murder of Czech tourist Sylvia Molrova, who was killed by Farkhan in 2004.

The defense stands to demand a prison sentence of no more than nine years. The plea bargain pends the authorization of the Nazareth District Court.