Last update - 00:00 26/12/2006
Teen sentenced to 8 years for killing brother over use of computer
By Nir Hasoon, Haaretz Correspondent
The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday issued a sentence of eight years imprisonment to a teen who killed his brother in June, during a fight over the use of the computer in their family home in Jerusalem.
The defendant, who was 16 at the time of the murder, struck his 11-year-old brother in the head with a 10 kilogram weight, mortally wounding him.
In order to cover up his crime, the defendant then tossed his brother's body and several blood-covered belongings of his out of the window of the apartment. The youth then called the police and told them that a terrorist had broken into the house and killed his brother.
Initially, the prosecution sought to charge the youth with murder and obstruction of justice, but the defendant pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain and the charge was reduced to manslaughter.
The eight-year prison sentence, as well as a two-year suspended sentence, were entered as part of the plea bargain.
"This incident lacks precedent. Fortunately, we are not looking at a recurring or common phenomenon, and therefore we must find a way to adjudicate and handle the circumstances of this unique incident," said Judge Tzvi Segel.
The parents of the defendant have so far supported their son, with the mother serving as a character witness. Nonetheless, the judges decided to take a harsh stance towards the crime.
"It may be considered a cliche, but the idea that 'my house is my castle' was dealt a mortal blow by this crime," stated Segel.
The judge added in his ruling that "during a disproportionate and unreasonable fight between brothers over the use of a computer, the defendant, instead of being an example to his younger brother, killed him over nothing."