Israel – Judge Orders Psychiatric Evaluation Of Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade Stabber

Israel – The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday ordered Yishai Schlissel, the suspect in the stabbing attack at last week’s Jerusalem gay pride parade, to undergo psychiatric evaluation in order to gauge if he was mentally fit to serve trial.

Schlissel, who was previously imprisoned for stabbing three people at the 2005 Jerusalem Pride Parade, went on a stabbing rampage at last Thursday’s parade, just three weeks after being released from jail, killing 16-year-old Shira Banki and wounding five others.

Schlissel, who was present at the court hearing, said repeatedly that he does not recognize the authority of the court, and refused to be represented by an attorney. However, a public defender was sent to the court in the event that Schlissel change his mind or if the court would order him to have an attorney.

When Schlissel was asked during the hearing if he wished to be represented by the public defender, he answered, “I am not interested in representation. You have no authority to judge. It is not in accordance with the holy Torah. I don’t want to take part in this illegal display, not by myself and not through any representative.”

Judge Einat Zinger decided as a result of the hearing to send Schlissel for psychiatric observation. The law states that the suspect must have representation, but the judge added that “in these circumstances, the public defender should be appointed. However, in this situation, I will make due with the public defender’s representative being present in the courtroom during the hearing.”

Zinger said that “the defendant will be checked by a district psychiatrist who will determine if he was responsible for his actions at the time he carried out the attack and if he is fit to stand trial.”

The judge added that Schlissel should be checked within 48 hours and the results should be available for the court within seven days.

Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post