Haifa court upholds acquittal of cop in 2019 killing of Solomon Tekah

The Haifa District Court unanimously rejects an appeal against the acquittal of the police officer accused of the reckless manslaughter of 18-year-old Solomon Tekah in 2019, saying that the officer was in a life-threatening situation when he fired a warning shot into the ground that ricocheted and killed Tekah, and that he acted appropriately.

The incident led to riots in the Ethiopian Israeli community, of which Tekah was a member, and generated renewed accusations of police violence and racism.

In its decision, the court says that the Haifa Magistrate Court’s ruling in April this year took into account all relevant considerations and addressed all the claims against the officer, whose name has been barred from publication.

The district court noted in particular that the situation, in which the officer confronted a group of youths fighting each other, had deteriorated because it was the youths themselves who threw rocks at the policeman, and that as a result his life was in immediate danger.

The court acknowledged the claims that the warning shot fired by the officer into the ground violated police procedure, which requires warning shots to be fired into the air, but said that this was not enough to convict him on the charge of reckless manslaughter.

It added that the police officer also had the right of self-defense in the situation owing to the threat to his life, which would have justified forceful action to defend himself.

“We are aware of the sorrow and suffering caused to the family of the deceased, as well as to the accused and his family. We hope and wish for comfort and a better future for all those involved in this painful case,” the judges add.