Family of Murdered Teen Yoel Lehanghel Files 6.6M Shekel Lawsuit Over Police Failures
Family of Yoel Lehanghel files a 6.6 million shekel lawsuit against the state and attackers, citing severe police failures during the 2002 immigrant's fatal beating.
Nearly four years after the tragic murder of 18-year-old Yoel Lehanghel in Kiryat Shmona, his family and partner have filed a massive 6.6 million shekel lawsuit against the state and a group of teenagers involved in the attack. The lawsuit, submitted to the Central District Court by attorney Rachel Tzinkin, follows severe investigative failures revealed in a media investigation by ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth.
The Incident and Police Failures
Lehanghel, who immigrated to Israel in 2002 and belonged to the Bnei Menashe community, was beaten and stabbed to death by a large group of youths. The civil suit alleges that the police failed both during the initial altercation and in the subsequent investigation. According to the legal filing, officers on the scene blamed the victim instead of protecting him, and actively impeded the investigation, allowing the main perpetrator to escape murder charges.
"The police bought the killer time, disrupted the investigation, and prevented the prosecution of anyone for murder or manslaughter," the lawsuit states.
Legal Demands and Response
The plaintiffs argue that the murder could easily have been prevented with proper police intervention. Furthermore, the suit names former police officer Haim Gabai, alleging he failed to secure Lehanghel's safety or call an ambulance after the first assault. The State Attorney's Office responded that they have not yet received the official lawsuit.
