Knocked a nun to the ground in Jerusalem, kicked her - and was acquitted due to insanity | Documentation of the attack

About three months after he attacked a nun near the Tomb of David in Jerusalem, the city's Magistrate's Court determined today (Wednesday) that Yona Simcha Schreiber committed the acts attributed to him - but acquitted him due to insanity. Consequently, the court ordered his psychiatric hospitalization for a period of six years.

The attack occurred last May. According to the indictment filed against Schreiber, 36, from Pedu'el, he noticed a woman dressed in Christian nun's clothing, and because of this, decided to attack her. He ran towards her, pushed her with force, and knocked her to the ground. Afterwards, Schreiber kicked her forcefully. In the documentation of the incident, which was distributed online last week, it appears that a person present at the scene tried to prevent Schreiber from continuing the attack, but the defendant also attacked him with punches and kicks. As a result of the attack, the nun suffered facial hemorrhaging and bruising on her leg.

In the indictment filed against him by the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office, Schreiber was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm motivated by hostility towards the public on religious grounds, and simple assault. However, during the proceedings, a psychiatric opinion was submitted stating that Schreiber was in a psychotic state at the time of the acts and is not criminally responsible. Unlike similar cases, Schreiber was found fit to stand trial, but the very fact that he "was insane" at the time of committing the offense is the reason he could not be convicted.

In the verdict, Judge Ofir Tishler determined that there is evidence to prove Schreiber's guilt and that he committed the acts attributed to him. Nevertheless, in light of the psychiatric opinion, Tishler determined that he should be acquitted due to insanity. The court ordered a hospitalization order for a period of six years, which is the maximum period prescribed for the most serious of the offenses for which it was determined he committed the acts. It was further noted that the psychiatric committee is authorized to shorten the hospitalization period in accordance with its professional considerations.

The incident did not happen in a vacuum in Jerusalem, and it is only one of a series of cases of harassment and attacks against Christians and clergy, mainly in the Old City. In recent years, there have been repeated reports of spitting at Christian clergy, physical attacks, verbal abuse, and damage to the property of Christian institutions in the Old City and its surroundings.

Attorney Idan Gamlieli, who represented the defendant on behalf of the Public Defender's Office, stated:

"The district psychiatrist determined that the unfortunate incident is a product of the defendant's mental illness and that he needs psychiatric treatment in a hospital, and we hope that the medical treatment will help him return to optimal functioning. It is important to note that we understand the complainant's difficult feelings and wish her to overcome the consequences of the unfortunate event."