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Suspect Admits Stabbing Teenager, Denies Murder Intent
A 15-year-old minor admitted in the Lod District Court on Sunday to fatally stabbing 21-year-old Yemenu Zalka during a brawl outside a Petah Tikva pizzeria on Independence Day eve. The defendant, who was originally indicted in May, confessed to carrying a knife and stabbing Zalka once in the leg, but denied the charge of murder with indifference. His defense attorney, Avi Cohen, argued that the teen did not intend to kill Zalka and requested a conviction for a lesser charge, such as reckless homicide or negligent homicide.
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What happened
- 01A 15-year-old suspect admitted in court to stabbing 21-year-old Yemenu Zalka during an Independence Day eve brawl in Petah Tikva.
- 02The defense argues the minor did not intend to kill Zalka and is seeking a conviction for reckless or negligent homicide instead of murder.
- 03The fatal confrontation began after Zalka asked a group of youths to stop using party spray inside the pizzeria where he worked.
- 04A group of teenagers ambushed and assaulted Zalka after his shift, during which the main suspect stabbed him in the leg, severing an artery.
- 05Sixteen minors have been indicted in connection with the fatal attack, with 15 facing charges of aggravated assault.
- 06The victim's family has criticized the prosecution, denouncing the charges against the defendants as too lenient.
- 07The prosecution previously rejected a plea deal in August, citing the severity of the case and the public interest.
- 08The court denied the main suspect's request for house arrest, ordering him to remain in custody until the trial concludes.
According to the indictment, the confrontation began when Zalka, an employee at the pizzeria, asked a group of teenagers to stop using party spray inside the restaurant. When Zalka finished his shift around 1:00 a.m., the youths ambushed, surrounded, and assaulted him. During the struggle, the main suspect stabbed Zalka in the groin, severing a femoral artery. Zalka died from his wounds in the hospital the following day. Video footage of the incident reportedly showed the group continuing to beat Zalka even after he was stabbed and fell.
Police arrested 19 individuals in connection with the killing, and indictments were filed against 16 minors. While the main suspect faces murder charges, 15 other minors, mostly aged 14 to 16, are charged with aggravated assault. Zalka's family has criticized the prosecution, denouncing the charges against the defendants as too lenient. In August, prosecutors rejected a plea deal, citing the severity of the case and the public interest. The court denied the main suspect's request for house arrest, ordering him to remain in custody pending the conclusion of the trial, which has been postponed for the presentation of evidence.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 6 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Israel National News. Read Israel National News’s original
The coverage
6 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre2
- Right3
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
- Other1
Not in the Left or Arab press
