Hebron District Security Officer Yoni Bleichberd on Wednesday, 24 Tishrei, testified for the defense in the ongoing manslaughter trial of Sgt. Elor Azariya.

Bleichberd explained that “While I am not the chief of staff, I have seen many such instances and I believe the soldier acted correctly” in shooting the wounded terrorist. He told the court the scene was a “big mess” and added he did see the wounded terrorist moving, giving additional credibility to Azariya’s statements that he feared the terrorist was trying to activate a bomb.

Bleichberd told the court he was a meter and a half from Sgt. Elor when he fired at the terrorist and it was he, Bleichberd, who briefed the IDF Brigade Commander Colonel Yariv Ben-Ezra upon his arrival on the scene. He made a point of saying the first terrorist was killed immediately and the second, a few minutes later.

Bleichberd explains “they made a mess of things” in his reference of the military’s handling of the attack scene. He added there was every reason to fear the wounded terrorist would try to detonate a bomb as if he knew he was dying he would do everything possible to take additional victims with him.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)