Murder trial begins for three Israelis accused of killing Palestinian teenager

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/06/murder-trial-three-israelis-palestinian-teenager

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The trial of three Israelis accused of murdering a Palestinian teenager in an apparent revenge attack opened in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

It is claimed the killing was in retaliation for the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens. The incidents were two of the precursors to the Gaza war that the UN said has killed more than 1,900 people.

Joseph Haim Ben-David, 29, and two minors, who have not been named, were charged with the murder, belonging to a terror organisation and kidnapping.

They also face charges related to the acquisition of weapons, conspiracy to commit a crime and hate crimes.

Ben-David was told on Wednesday that he would remain in custody until the end of the trial, while the remand of the other two defendants was extended for a further week.

The three are accused of kidnapping 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir and driving him into the woods near Jerusalem. It is claimed they beat him over the head and poured petrol on him, before setting him alight.

It has been reported that they have admitted to the killing and re-enacted it for Israeli police.

According to Haaretz, the indictment says that, after the bodies of the three kidnapped Israeli teens - Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrah - were discovered, a cousin of one of the minors now on trial said Israeli Jews should carry out a revenge attack.

In court on Wednesday, the victim's father called for revenge to be taken on the three Israelis. "I would have liked that just as they burned my son, they should also be allowed to burn," he said. "That is what is right and just. They poured gasoline on my son while he was still alive," Israeli media reported.

According to the reports, he told the court: "A month has passed since the murder, and the murderers' homes have still not been destroyed. [They] must be destroyed."

According to reports, protesters gathered outside the court in Jerusalem on Wednesday. One demonstrator, who asked not to be named, said: "We are protesting here to demand slapping the most severe punishment against the killers.

"The perpetrators must be punished for their atrocious crime against this innocent child," she told the Middle East Eye website.