Cohen: You're all corrupt
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Shoe-thrower threatens another judge
Pini Cohen, who threw shoe at Dorit Beinish, is removed from his trial after yelling at judge
Pini Cohen, who is charged with throwing a
shoe at Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish, ran threateningly towards Judge Shimon Feinberg while yelling out swearwords after he was asked to testify at his trial Sunday.
He was blocked by security guards and Prison Service personnel, who removed him physically from the courtroom.
Seeds of Mania
Ronen Medzini
In expedited process, Pini Cohen, who threw show at Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish, indicted for injuring judge, disrespecting her status
Before he was scheduled to testify before the court, Cohen asked to speak. "For five months I have been detained, and I have not said anything yet," he said.
"You do whatever you want. Why can't I present questions to the judge? You have decided to place me in prison, so put me there. For four years Judge Philip Marcus abused us and for six years you have been trying to hide it. We have questions for the (Supreme Court) president. Why don't we have the right to ask?"
At this stage Cohen began yelling and moving towards the judge's bench. "Why is this trial going on like this? What am I, Eichman? You are using your power against me. You are corrupt because of the president. She forces you to be corrupt. I am a danger to the public? This is a disgrace to Israel," he yelled.
The guards arrived, and as they blocked him from proceeding towards the bench he yelled out to his attorney: "I'm firing you. You're fired."
"One more outburst and I'm removing you," the judge called to him, but Cohen brushed him off. "What are you going to do?" he asked. Then he was carried out bodily by the guards, yelling that the Supreme Court president was "corrupting everyone".
The indictment filed with the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court accuses Cohen, who had apparently cultivated bitter sentiments during a lengthy previous involvement with the court, of throwing a shoe at Beinish's head and hitting it on the left side, breaking her glasses and landing her on the floor.
Cohen also yelled at the Supreme Court president that she was "corrupt" and had destroyed his life. She suffered a nosebleed and contusions from the blow.
