Robbed and beat an elderly man who died from his wounds: 30-month prison sentence
Teklom Tsegay attacked a 71-year-old man at a Tel Aviv bus stop, broke his nose, and stole his mobile phone shortly before the victim collapsed and died at home. Due to the victim's underlying medical condition, the charge was reduced to causing death by negligence. The judge sentenced Tsegay to 30 months in prison, citing the significant weight of a "sulha" (reconciliation) process in which the defendant paid $60,000 to the victim's family.
What began as a random encounter at a bus stop in Tel Aviv ended in the tragic death of a 71-year-old man. The Tel Aviv District Court has sentenced Teklom Tsegay to 30 months in prison following a plea bargain in which he was convicted of robbery and causing death by negligence after beating an elderly man and stealing his mobile device.
According to the amended indictment, the incident occurred over a year ago on Etzel Street. Tsegay noticed the man at the bus stop and suspected he was being filmed. He approached the victim, shook his hand, and sat down next to him. During a subsequent exchange, Tsegay attempted to forcibly snatch the victim's phone. When the man resisted, Tsegay punched him hard in the face, breaking his nose, and fled with the device.
About 15 minutes later, the victim arrived at his apartment and changed his blood-stained clothes. Shortly after, he collapsed and died despite prolonged resuscitation efforts.
During sentencing, the prosecution requested a five-year term, arguing that attacks on the elderly have become a "national plague" and that a mobile phone should not be treated as mere property, as it contains the "life and memories" of its owner.
The defense requested a 20-month sentence, arguing that the incident was spontaneous rather than a planned ambush. The defense attorney relied on a pathological report showing the victim suffered from 85% arterial narrowing, which led to the conclusion that the punch was not the direct cause of death—a fact that resulted in the charge being downgraded to causing death by negligence.
A central factor in the relatively lenient sentence was a "sulha" (reconciliation) process held within the Eritrean community, in which Tsegay and his family paid the victim's family $60,000 (over 200,000 shekels) as compensation.
Judge Shmuel Melamed stated in his verdict that society loses its moral foundation when individuals are not safe from violence in public spaces. However, he accepted the defense's arguments regarding the spontaneous nature of the event and the victim's medical condition. The judge defined the financial compensation as a "central consideration" reflecting sincere remorse. Given the defendant's admission of responsibility, lack of a criminal record in the last decade, and status as a father of two, the judge opted for a sentence at the lower end of the range.
