Two more convicted in 2012 fatal lighting rig accident at Mount Herzl

Engineer Oren Varshebski, safety consultant Yitzhak Tzuker will be sentenced for their part in disaster that claimed life of Lt. Hila Betzaleli

The collapsed lighting rig at Mount Herzl (photo credit: Nati Shohat/Flash90)
The collapsed lighting rig at Mount Herzl (photo credit: Nati Shohat/Flash90)

The Jerusalem District Court on Monday convicted two men of negligence in the 2012 death of a young army officer when a lighting rig collapsed in the capital’s Mount Herzl.

Engineer Oren Varshebski and safety consultant Yitzhak Tzuker were found liable for the death of Lieutenant Hila Betzaleli, a 20-year-old IDF officer from Mevasseret Zion, who was crushed to death when the lighting rig crashed down on her and other soldiers as they rehearsed for the official state Independence Day ceremony in the central parade ground. Seven other soldiers were injured in the incident.

The two will face deliberations on sentencing next week.

Hila Betzaleli poses at the Mount Herzl parade grounds, two hours before the tragedy in which she lost her life. (photo credit: Channel 2 News)
Hila Betzaleli poses at the Mount Herzl parade grounds, two hours before the tragedy in which she lost her life. (photo credit: Channel 2 News)

Last year two other officials were found responsible for the disaster. Elad Levi, the deputy CEO of Itzuv Bima stage design company, was handed a six-month sentence, while the company’s operations manager, Tomer Leonidze, received a seven-month sentence. Doron Levi, the CEO of the company, was acquitted on all charges.

 

Most Popular
read more: