The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday, 11 Nissan rejected an insanity plea filed on behalf of Yosef Chaim Ben-David, the primary suspect in the murder of 16-year-old Jerusalem Arab resident Muhmad Abu-Khalid. Ben-Chaim was already convicted of the murder back in November 2016.

Muhmad Abu-Khalid was a 16-year-old Arab teen abducted from the Beit Haninah area of the capital, tortured and set ablaze while still alive.

The court on Tuesday would not hear any such plea, explaining it has already been determined that Ben-Chaim is mentally competent, was clearly aware of his actions on that day and has been convicted of the heinous hate crime. The conviction was deferred pending a psychiatric exam, with the court adding the prosecution has submitted sufficient evidence in the case so the conviction stands.

The two other defendants, minors, were sentenced to life imprisonment and 21 years’ imprisonment.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)