Young Israeli man indicted for stabbing soldier to death

A Petah Tikva court indicted on Thursday the young man who stabbed a combat soldier to death three weeks ago.

The incident took place in Rishon Letzion, where Uri Chen, a 20-year-old Golani brigade soldier was hanging out with some friends. Woodga Malik, a 20-year-old resident of Rishon Letzion joined Chen and his friends. When a fight broke out between Chen and Malik, Malik drew a knife and stabbed Chen in the stomach. Chen succumbed to his wounds shortly thereafter while Malik fled the scene.

Malik, who had been in prison before, was indicted for manslaughter and illegal possession of a knife, but not for murder. Prosecutors explained that there was no evidence that he planned to kill the soldier.

Police said that except for Chen, most of the youth that were out that night, Malik in particular, were known to have criminal and violent backgrounds.

"Uri knew [the youths] and went out with them, but he took no part in the criminal activities that some of the youth were involved in," said the head of Rishon Letzion police.

"This happens everywhere and it could happen to anyone," Chen's family said.

Hen's uncle, Col. (res.) Kob Agmon continued, "It's not just fights, it's cold-blooded murder! The alcohol is not the killer, the knife is not the killer, the murderer with the knife was the killer."