Minor Confesses to Stabbing in Petah Tikva Murder Trial but Denies Reckless Homicide
A minor on trial for the stabbing death of Yimnu Zelka at a Petah Tikva mall confessed to the act but denied reckless murder, arguing the killing was unintentional.
A juvenile on trial for the reckless murder of Yimnu Zelka, who was stabbed to death outside a Pizza Hut branch at the Hacikar Mall in Petah Tikva on Independence Day, confessed to the stabbing on Sunday.
Through his defense attorney, Avi Cohen, the minor admitted to stabbing Zelka in the leg but denied the charge of reckless murder, arguing that he never intended to kill the victim. The defense claimed that the tragic outcome resulted from severe blood loss following a leg wound, which was unintended.
The defense emphasized that the core dispute centers on the legal classification of the act and the defendant's state of mind, rather than the stabbing itself. They intend to argue that the offense amounts at most to manslaughter through negligence, carrying a maximum sentence of 12 years.
At the request of defense counsel Avi Cohen, the court adjourned the hearing to begin evidentiary proceedings. The court will ultimately determine whether the minor's actions constitute reckless murder or manslaughter.
