Border cop indicted in fatal shooting of comrade
Gilad Weizman, 21, hit with manslaughter charges after killing Avi Grunov, 19, during ‘friendly conversation’ in 2015
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
A Border Policeman on Sunday was indicted for manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a fellow cop in January 2015.
The killing of Avi Grunov, 19, was initially suspected to be the result of an accidental discharge of a firearm.
However, the indictment lodged at the Beersheba District Court charges that Gilad Weizman, 21, had pointed the armed gun at his friend and pulled the trigger, according to the Ynet news website.
Weizman, Grunov, and two others were engaged in a “friendly conversation” at the time of the incident, according to the indictment.
“During the friendly conversation — and while the defendant made a provocative remark to the deceased during that friendly conversation — the defendant pointed his gun at the deceased, cocked it, and pulled the trigger. A bullet was fired, hit the deceased in the face, and resulted in his death,” it said.
Border police Avi Grunov (19) killed today by bullet that was accidentally discharged from gun at Yad Mordechai base. pic.twitter.com/B3you7ZzUX
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) January 14, 2015
Weizman, who faces manslaughter charges, maintained he did not know the gun was loaded.
“This is a very tragic and unfortunate incident that occurred by accident,” said Weizman’s attorney, Zion Amir, according to Ynet. “Gilad Weizman was convinced that his gun had no cartridge and no bullets.”
Amir argued the case was a result of “negligence,” rather than manslaughter, and said he was “surprised” by the indictment.
Weizman will be sentenced at a later date.
The Times of Israel Community.