Suspect in killing of Palestinian to stay in custody as house arrest request rejected

The Jerusalem District Court rejects a request by lawyers for Yehiel Indore, the central suspect in the fatal shooting of a Palestinian earlier this month, to be sent to house arrest.

Indore is suspected of fatally shooting 19-year-old Qusai Jamal Matan in a clash on August 4 in the Palestinian village of Burqa. Indore was seriously injured in the clash, allegedly from a rock thrown by a Palestinian that hit his face, and has spent most of his time in custody in a hospital until his transferral yesterday to a Prisons Service medical facility.

Indore was ordered by a lower court on Friday to remain in custody until at least this week after law enforcement requested a 10-day extension, claiming they have significant evidence supporting their case.

In his decision today, Judge Alexander Mor says that while Indore’s claim of self-defense is legitimate, the lower court’s decision was reasonable and doesn’t justify intervention.

During the hearing, a police representative argued that Indore’s version of events is inconsistent with other descriptions and with the topography of the area, which “refutes the self-defense argument.”

The representative said Indore’s answers during questioning have displayed “selective memory,” with the suspect going into detail when describing the Palestinians and their actions while avoiding details when asked about the Jews who were involved.

Indore’s attorney Nati Rom, of the Honenu legal aid group, said Indore has “cognitive problems” and “his emotional and cognitive state is deteriorating now that he’s no longer hospitalized.”

Another hearing on Indore’s potential remand is expected tomorrow.