Family Sues State for $1.8 Million Over Alleged Police Failures in Son's Murder

Four years after the brutal lynching of 18-year-old Yoel Lahengal in Kiryat Shmona, his parents and girlfriend have filed a NIS 6.6 million (approximately $1.8 million) lawsuit against the state and the group of youths accused in his death. The lawsuit alleges severe investigative failures by the police, claiming that authorities "bought the murderer time" and that the "police obstructed the murder investigation."

Yoel Lahengal, who immigrated to Israel from India in 2002 with his family and was part of the Bnei Menashe community, was reportedly attacked and stabbed by a large group of individuals. The lawsuit contends that the murder could have been prevented with proper police conduct, both at the scene and during the subsequent investigation. It states that due to these failures, no one has been convicted of his murder.

The family's attorney, Rachel Tzinkin, argues that the Israel Police, responsible for maintaining order, failed to prevent the attack. She claims that a patrol unit present before the murder wrongly blamed the victim, did not intervene to save Yoel, and instead protected the local group. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that police officers actively "obstructed the investigation" after the incident, delaying justice.

The suit details that officers arriving after an initial assault did not attempt to locate the attackers or prevent a further assault. They reportedly left Yoel bleeding and did not arrange for medical assistance. The plaintiffs assert that the police did not act reasonably under the circumstances, leading to the tragic outcome and the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice for murder or manslaughter.

The Prosecutor's Office stated that they have not yet received the lawsuit.