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Israeli Court Acquits 2 in Mob Killing of Eritrean Migrant

Associated Press

   JERUSALEM - An Israeli court on Monday acquitted a soldier and a prison
   guard in the 2015 killing of an Eritrean man who was shot and beaten to
   death by a mob in the aftermath of a terror attack after being mistaken
   for an assailant.

   The Beersheba District Court ruled that YaakovShimbaand Ronen Cohen
   were not guilty of injury with grave intent in the death
   ofHabtomZerhom, citing "reasonable doubt."

   The judge saidZerhomwas "the target of rampant aggression that has no
   justification," but accepted the defendants' claim that they
   beatZerhombecause they believed him to be an attacker.

   In the Oct. 18, 2015 attack, an Arab man armed with a knife and gun
   killed a soldier, stole his weapon and opened fire into a crowd at the
   Beersheba bus station, wounding nine.

   In the ensuing mayhem,Zerhom, a 29-year-old Eritrean migrant, ran into
   the station to seek shelter. A security guard mistook him for a second
   attacker and shot him.

   A mob, which includedShimbaand Cohen, then proceeded to kick and
   beatZerhomwhile he lay on the floor bleeding, as several bystanders
   tried to protect him. He later died of his wounds at a hospital.

   The attack came at a time of heightened tensions, when Palestinians
   were carrying out a wave of stabbings, shootings and car-ramming
   assaults. At the time, Israelis were stocking up on mace and pepper
   spray, and some public officials were openly carrying personal weapons
   and encouraging the public to do the same.

   After the killing ofZerhom, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned
   the vigilantism. Some critics accused Israel's leaders of fostering the
   charged climate, while others called for the swift prosecution of those
   involved in the mob.

   Two others charged in the case were convicted and sentenced to four
   months in prison and 100 days of community service, respectively. One
   was ordered to pay compensation toZerhom'sfamily, which is suing the
   Israeli government for damages.

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