French court orders criminal probe against Tel Aviv hit-and-run killers

Driver and passenger of car that struck down Lee Zeitouni last year are at large in France, protected by extradition laws

By Philip Podolsky and Sam Ser 12 July 2012, 12:42 am

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France’s ambassador to Israel Christophe Bigot, right, speaks at a special hearing of the Knesset Immigrant Absorption Committee about the extradition of those suspected of killing Lee Zeitouni, July 2012. (photo credit: Uri Lenz/Flash90)

A Paris court on Wednesday ordered a criminal investigation into charges of aggravated manslaughter against the suspects involved in the Tel Aviv hit-and-run accident that killed 25-year-old Israeli and French dual citizen Lee Zeitouni last year.

The move was made possible after Zeitouni’s parents filed a complaint earlier this month against Claude Isaac and Eric Roubi, French citizens who had fled following the accident.

Zeitouni was run over by a black BMW X6 on On September 16, 2011, on her way to work. She later died of her wounds.

Claude Isaac, who admitted to driving the car that caused the accident, and his passenger Eric Roubi – both French nationals who lived in Israel – left the scene of the accident and fled to Europe. Both are currently at large in France.

According to French law, citizens can only be extradited to European Union member states.

A judge is to be appointed soon by French legal authorities to handle the case, which would also include charges for abandoning a wounded person in need of medical help.