PID defends dead Ethiopian probe results

The Police Investigations Department (PID) sent a letter on Thursday to the parents of killed Ethiopian-Israeli Solomon Tekah defending the findings of the police ballistics department and the state’s forensics institute (not connected to the police) that the bullet, which a policeman fired and killed Tekah, was a ricochet.

The issue is of crucial importance, as if the policeman fired at the ground and not directly at Tekah, then he probably cannot be charged with more than involuntary manslaughter as recommended by the PID, but which is much less than the original murder or manslaughter charges that had been discussed.

PID also rejected a request by the parents to view the case file before the prosecution make a final decision about the alleged charges, though it did say that it would consider the additional investigatory activities requested by the family.

Further, an autopsy carried out by the PID found that Tekah had a very high blood alcohol level and residual drugs in his body at the time he was shot, The Jerusalem Post’s sister paper, Maariv, reported.

The autopsy was done at the L. Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir, according to sources familiar with the details.

The PID condemned the leaks from the investigation and expressed sympathy with the family’s anger regarding those leaks.

On Tuesday, the police placed the policeman who shot and killed Tekah on forced leave.

The decision came following the decision by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Monday to free the policeman and to allow him to enter any police precincts besides his regular one in the Haifa area.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.