The Beersheba District Court is expected tomorrow (Tuesday) to rule on the sentence of Zahi Abu Judah, brother of terrorist Khaled Abu Judah, who was convicted of murdering soldier Ron Kukia and was charged with preparation for an act of terrorism and other offenses.
"If you want"
Due to the complexity of the case and the various events that occurred during its management, Abu Judah is expected to be acquitted of the accessory to murder charge, but to be convicted on other counts, after the case was conducted for six years.
Confrontations in court. Boaz, father of Sergeant Ron Kukia, and Odeh Abu-Judah, father of the terrorist who murdered the soldier (archive), photo: Dudu Greenspan
In December 2017, soldier Ron Kukia was murdered near Arad, after Khaled Abu Judah arrived at the hitchhiking station where he was waiting and stabbed him to death. His accomplice was his brother, Zahi, and both brothers were arrested that night. Khaled was indicted for attempted murder and the murder itself, as well as for concealing the weapon.
His brother Zahi carries the same first charge - murder and attempted murder, and another charge - aiding and abetting after the fact. The verdict sentenced Khaled to life imprisonment and another 20 years behind bars, with the process ending relatively quickly despite the change in the first count: conspiracy to murder instead of attempted murder. The State Prosecutor's Office refused to accept the decision and filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, which was rejected.
The terrorist's family provoked the victim's family: "Come out" (archive), photo: Dudu Greenspan
The informer could not be summoned to testify
Zahi, whose sentence will be decided tomorrow, changed his defense attorney three times, and because of the intensified panel of judges, the process continues to this day. The defendant made several claims to ISA interrogators and also to an informant who was in the cell with him, but his version could not have been accepted because for security reasons the informer could not be summoned to testify.
In the appeal filed, the Supreme Court was not convinced that Zahi could be convicted of attempted murder, so tomorrow the conviction counts will be changed, and he will probably be acquitted on this count, convicted of conspiracy as well as preparatory act. It should be noted, however, that in these sections the prison sentences are usually lighter.
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