Prosecution to appeal Hebron shooter sentence — reports
Army lawyers said set to ask for a harsher sentence for Elor Azaria, days after defense appeals conviction, sentence
Military prosecutors are reportedly set to appeal the 18-month prison sentence given to the soldier who shot and killed a wounded Palestinian attacker last March in Hebron.
The appeal against Elor Azaria’s conviction is to be filed within three days, according to Hebrew reports on Sunday.
Prosecutors will reportedly argue that the sentence given to Azaria by the Jaffa Military Court was too light, given his conviction for manslaughter. They will ask for a sentence between 30-48 months, in line with the minority opinion of one of the three presiding judges.
The move comes days after Azaria’s own attorney, Yoram Sheftel, filed an appeal against the conviction and the sentence. Azaria’s other lawyers quit immediately after the appeal was filed, apparently over a dispute as to the best course of action to follow.
The departing lawyers said in a statement that they believed Azaria would have been better served by pursuing a different route, an apparent reference to plans to request a pardon.
Azaria, 21, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced last month for shooting dead Abed al-Fattah al-Sharif on March 24, 2016, minutes after Sharif and another man had carried out a stabbing attack on troops in Hebron, and as Sharif lay on the ground disarmed and bleeding after having been shot during the attack.
The incident and ensuing trial exposed divides in the country and became wrapped in political disputes.