More detainees to be released in Shuafat case

Wednesday, July 9, 2014, 18:32 As of now seven suspects have been detained in the Shuafat kidnapping/murder case.
On Tuesday, July 8 the seventh suspect in the case was detained on suspicion of involvement with the kidnapping. Immediately after the detention Honenu attorney Naftali Wertzberger filed an appeal on the detention. The appeal was judged in the evening by Jerusalem Magistrate Court Judge Aharon Gordon who rejected the claims made by Honenu regarding the involvement of the detainee in the case and left him in remand. During the night the police realized that they had erred and released the detainee to his home.
On Wednesday, July 9 the Petah Tikva Magistrate Court accepted the plea of Honenu attorneys Adi Kedar and Uri Keinan who are representing the suspects in the case, and ordered the release of three out of the six suspects who were detained on Sunday, July 6.
After Bentzi Kovler, Adi Kedar and Uri Keinan, Honenu attorneys representing the detainees, were allowed to meet with their clients it became clear that the detainees denied all connection to the kidnapping/murder, despite what had been publicized in the news media. The attorneys filed an appeal on the remand extension and the district court shortened the remand of two of them until Thursday, July 10 the day on which an additional detainee, a minor, was scheduled to be released.
On Wednesday, July 9 a reconsideration requested by Honenu attorneys took place at the Petah Tikva Magistrate Court. Judge Merav Greenberg accepted the pleas of the defense and ruled that three detainees will be released on Thursday, July 10 to the their homes if there is not significant development in the case.
Concerning the other three detainees, on Wednesday, July 9 they are expected to meet with their attorneys after the order banning them from meeting with and attorney is lifted.
“We are pleased that our claim concerning the suspects with whom we met has proved to be correct,” said attorney Bentzi Kovler, who is representing some of the detainees on behalf of Honenu. “Three citizens were brutally detained even though they have no connection to the act. Concerning the other three detainees will we respond after we are allowed to meet with them.”
Honenu attorney Adi Kedar, who is representing some of the detainees added that, “I welcome the release and in the same breath express deep sorrow that the GSS and the police are keeping in remand three youths who clearly have no connection to the incidents which are attributed to them. Without aggressive intervention from the defense it is doubtful that they would be released, and they would continue to be deprived of their rights, including the rights of a minor. The courts must distinguish between the detainees and examine the evidence according to the law and previous rulings.”