Convicted Murderer of Muhammad Abu Khdeir Faces New Charges in Prison
One of the individuals convicted for the murder of Muhammad Abu Khdeir was brought to the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court. Police suspect he was illegally possessing a mobile phone in his prison cell.
Y., one of the teenagers convicted for the murder of Muhammad Abu Khdeir—a case that shocked the nation—and currently serving a life sentence at Rimonim Prison, was brought to a hearing at the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court on Monday. Police allege that Y. was in illegal possession of a mobile phone inside his cell.
Following the discovery, the police filed a request to extend Y.'s detention for five days, during which he would be held in a detention wing under stricter conditions than his current facility.
Police representative, Chief Warrant Officer Alon Haver, stated at the hearing:
"This is a suspect serving a life sentence. A smartphone was seized inside Rimonim Prison. During the investigation, indications arose that the suspect was the one holding the phone. He was interrogated and exercised his right to remain silent. The suspect is a prisoner, and the restriction is merely his transfer to a detention wing."
Y.'s attorney, Avichai Hajbi, argued that there is no evidence linking his client to the phone and requested that he remain in his current wing. Judge Sharon Danieli partially granted the police request, ordering Y.'s detention for three days.
The murder of Abu Khdeir took place in July 2014, when Yosef Haim Ben David and his two minor nephews, including Y., kidnapped the 16-year-old youth from East Jerusalem in retaliation for the kidnapping and murder of three Jewish teenagers: Yaakov Naftali Frenkel, Gil-Ad Shaer, and Eyal Yifrach.
The three beat him to death and burned his body in the Jerusalem Forest. They were convicted of a nationalistic murder and received heavy sentences. Ben David was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 20 years, Y. was sentenced to life imprisonment, and the other nephew received a 21-year prison term.
