Jerusalem terrorist admits to deliberately targeting Jews
Khaled Kutina, who rammed his car into 2 Israelis killing one and seriously wounding another, admitted to committing attack as revenge for his 'miserable life'.
Khaled Kutina confessed to deliberately ramming his car at two Israelis waiting for the bus in Jerusalem last week, killing a man and wounding a woman, it was cleared for publication on Tuesday.
The investigation found that several hours before the attack, Kutina drove his family from 'Anata to East Jerusalem. At the exit from 'Anata, the car was held at a checkpoint, which Kutina said made him angry. He decided to commit the attack after dropping off his family.
In his interrogation, 37-year-old Kutina admitted he was driving along Highway 1 looking for Jews to harm as revenge for his "miserable life."
When he stopped at a light at the French Hill junction, he noticed two people who appeared Jewish walking towards a bus station and decided to target them.
He veered off the left lane at high speed towards the right lane, drove onto the sidewalk and hit the two, who were waiting at the bus station. Immediately afterwards he drove in reverse and hit a stop light.
Jerusalem Police and Border Police forces that arrived at the scene apprehended him.
Shalom Yohai Cherki, who was critically wounded, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The second victim, Shira Klein remains in serious condition at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Karem.
Kutina's lawyer, Nasser Massis, said at a hearing on Thursday that the incident in Jerusalem was an accident that could've been caused due to mechanical failure in the car.
In his initial interrogation, Kutina told police investigators that he felt like he was "being chased by an Egged bus" which is why he had no choice but to veer off his lane. Later on he admitted to lying and said he gave his first version so police would think he was mentally ill. During the investigation he was sent to two psychiatric evaluations and was found fit to stand trial.
At Kutina's remand extension hearing on Thursday, a police representative said that after questioning the suspect and his relatives, it was revealed he was hospitalized at the Jerusalem Mental Health Center in the past. The initial investigation also found that Kutina has been taking anti-depressants for the past eight years.
According to the psychiatrist, the suspect was lucid, present and rejects having suicidal thoughts. The psychiatrist went on to say Kutina understands the different roles in the court as well as what he was arrested for, noting there is no evidence of a severe mental state that would require hospitalization.
While the judge extended Kutina's remand until Friday based on this psychiatric opinion, she recommended the prison doctor monitor him out of concern Kutina would hurt himself.
Police said Kutina is married and known as a very religious man who worked as a cleaner at a mosque in 'Anata. He used to send his friends text messages that were religious in nature, praising Prophet Muhammad.
Ynet reported Monday that a year and a half ago, the Health Ministry tried to suspend Kutina's driver's license pending the examination of his mental state. However, the move fell between the cracks due to the lack of coordination with the Transportation Ministry - which might have not received the Health Ministry's request at all.
He was also convicted in 2012 of intentionally causing damage to property.
