Rivlin reduces victim’s sentence for murder of rapist
President Reuven Rivlin will reduce the sentence of Yonatan Hilo, who killed in 2010 the convicted felon, Yaton Ayalon, who had repeatedly raped him.
In view of Hilo’s health and the highly traumatic ordeals that he underwent as the victim of a serial rapist prior to taking any action against the perpetrator, Rivlin is reducing Hilo’s sentence from 20 years to 10 years and eight months, so he will soon be eligible to come before the Parole Board.
Rivlin’s decision was made on the recommendation of Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Ayalon had brought Hilo to a dark alleyway where he said he wanted relieve himself, and Hilo, believing that Ayalon would rape him yet again, jumped him when his back was turned.
Hilo turned himself in to police the following day, saying he had intended to teach Ayalon a lesson, not kill him.
In December 2013, Hilo was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Lod District Court, which taking his predicament into consideration did not impose a life sentence. At the same time, however, it noted that Hilo had never reported the rape incidents to police.
Hilo subsequently appealed unsuccessfully to the Supreme Court to have the verdict overturned and to Rivlin for clemency. At the time, he was informed by the President’s Office that it would be prepared to consider another appeal after Hilo had served a reasonable amount of time in prison.
Rivlin is now willing to change a large part of the conviction to a suspended sentence based on the significant rehabilitation progress that Hilo has made over the past year.