TEL AVIV, Israel — The Latest on the conviction of an Israeli soldier on charges of manslaughter over the death of a wounded Palestinian attacker (all times local):
12:45 p.m.
An Israeli military court has convicted a soldier of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an incapacitated Palestinian attacker.
The verdict caps a nine-month saga that has deeply divided the country. Defense officials have criticized Sgt. Elor Azaria’s conduct, while large segments of the Israeli public, along with members of the nationalist ruling coalition, have rallied behind him.
In delivering her verdict, Col. Maya Heller systematically rejected all of Azaria’s defense arguments, saying “the fact that the man on the ground was a terrorist does not justify a disproportionate response.”
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11:30 a.m.
Scuffles have erupted outside the courtroom between supporters of an Israeli soldier charged with manslaughter over the death of a wounded Palestinian attacker and police officers.
Hundreds of demonstrators blocked a major Tel Aviv intersection near the courtroom at military headquarters on Wednesday and clashed with police. Journalists covering the demonstration say they were attacked by demonstrators.
A judge has been reading out the court’s decision for nearly an hour and a half, but has not yet announced the verdict.
The rare case of an active serviceman being charged has polarized Israel, with defense officials criticizing the soldier’s conduct and large segments of the Israeli public rallying behind him. The soldier was caught on video fatally shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker in the West Bank in March.
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10 a.m.
An Israeli military court is set to deliver the verdict in the case of a soldier tried for manslaughter for the death of a wounded Palestinian attacker.
The rare case of an active serviceman being charged has polarized Israel, with defense officials criticizing the soldier’s conduct and large segments of the Israeli public rallying behind him. The soldier was caught on video fatally shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker in the West Bank in March.
Dozens of the soldier’s supporters gathered outside a military court ahead of a verdict in his case.
The soldier’s family members and journalists waited quietly inside the courtroom at the Israeli military’s headquarters. A military official asked his family to show restraint during the reading of the verdict.
