Betlehem - Arab Today
An Israeli soldier to be tried on charges of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian in Hebron last week will be released to open detention on a military base, Ma'an News Agency quoted aIsraeli army spokesperson as saying.
The military court on upheld their decision to release the soldier to a five-day open detention, Israeli media reported, denying the prosecution's appeal to extend the soldier’s remand for another week.
The soldier is reportedly allowed to have visits by his immediate family.
Defense attorneys are to continue reviewing evidence during further deliberations at the military appeals court to take place this coming Tuesday, the spokesperson added.
Israeli news outlet Ynet reported that the military prosecutor disputed the decision to release the Israeli soldier, and that the soldier is not cooperating with the investigation.
"The soldier gives evasive answers whenever confronted with the questions that arise from his version of events. The soldier's changing version raises serious doubts about the credibility of the defense's claims, to put it mildly," Ynet quoted Chief military prosecutor Col. Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas as saying.
Footage released by rights group B’Tselem captured the moment the Israeli soldier stepped forward and shot 21-year-old Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif in the head, as he was lying on the ground severely wounded. He had earlier been gunned down after allegedly stabbing an Israeli soldier.
Source: QNA