TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) \u2014 An Israeli military court has convicted a soldier of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an incapacitated Palestinian attacker.
The verdict caps a nine-month saga that has deeply divided the country. Defense officials have criticized Sgt. Elor Azaria\u2019s conduct, while large segments of the Israeli public, along with members of the nationalist ruling coalition, have rallied behind him.
Azaria was convicted of fatally shooting a Palestinian involved in the stabbing of a soldier, even though the Palestinian had already been shot and incapacitated by troops.
In delivering her verdict, Col. Maya Heller systematically rejected all of Azaria\u2019s defense arguments, saying \u201cthe fact that the man on the ground was a terrorist does not justify a disproportionate response.\u201d
A spokesman for Azaria\u2019s family said the court ignored evidence indicating the soldier was innocent.
Sharon Gal, family spokesman and former lawmaker, told reporters, \u201cIt was like the court was detached from the fact that this was the area of an attack. I felt that the court picked up the knife from the ground and stabbed it in the back of all the soldiers.\u201d
The soldier\u2019s defense team said it would appeal the verdict.
Lt. Col. Nadav Weissman, a military prosecutor, said, \u201cThe judges decided that it was an unjustified shooting. This is not a happy day for us. We would have preferred that this didn\u2019t happen. But the deed was done, and the offense was severe.\u201d
The prosecutor said the verdict was \u201cimportant, clear, decisive and speaks for itself.\u201d
Copyright \u00a9 2017 The Washington Times, LLC.
Click to Read More
Click to Hide<\/p>\n

\n

\nSimilarity rank: 16\n<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: -6.4<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n