An indictment has been filed against Yonatan Padida // Photo: Shmuel Buharis
As we reported here last week, the plea deal was presented to the court, however the conviction was rejected a week after a dispute was discovered and the prosecution sought to aggravate the sentence. Defense attorney Adi Carmeli argued that the prosecution had withdrawn from the plea deal that was supposed to lead to a lower prison sentence, not to exceed eight years in prison. The families of the dead opposed this agreement, claiming that it was an immediate easing arrangement. Eventually the parties argued and reached an agreement that would resolve the dispute.
The prosecution will also demand monetary compensation for the families of the dead.
Attorney Sagi Segev from the State Attorney’s Office stated at the end of the hearing: “The defendant admitted and was convicted as part of a plea bargain in all the offenses attributed to him in the original indictment. Among other things, he was convicted of two offenses of manslaughter of the late Tomer Weinstein and the late Yaniv Lugassi. The plea agreement does not include agreement on the sentence. We consider this case to be severe and the sentence we sought to sentence the defendant, 12 years imprisonment, And reflects in our opinion the great severity of the case. “
About a year ago, an indictment was filed against Padida, a 30-year-old from Or Akiva, for the frivolous deaths of the late cyclists Yaniv Lugassi and Tomer Weinstein. The original indictment also charged him with drunk driving, obstruction of justice, reckless driving and possession of a dangerous drug. For self-consumption.
According to the indictment, prior to the accident the defendant made modifications to the vehicle which he owned for the purpose of increasing the engine power. During the two years prior to the accident, on many occasions the defendant drove at excessive speeds and was not adapted to the road conditions. Among other things, Padida overtook vehicles at high and dangerous speeds, despite the vigorous movement of cyclists and trainees running at the edges.
The indictment further states that on December 16, 19 at 6:00, the defendant was driving his home toward his workplace, under the influence of a cannabis drug. An active substance in a high concentration is found in his body. He also possessed 8.48 grams of drugs in his vehicle. At around 6:30, the defendant turned left off Route 551. At that time, they were riding a bicycle along the opposite lane in the direction of the defendant, the late Yaniv Lugassi and Tomer Weinstein, with a guardrail to their right.
The indictment alleges, among other things, that “the defendant caused the deaths of the deceased in his actions, with ease and while taking an unreasonable risk of causing the deaths of people, hoping to prevent this. In addition, the defendant drove the vehicle easily and quickly in public circumstances.” “Drunk driver, possessed a dangerous drug for self-consumption, changed the structure of the vehicle and disrupted legal proceedings.”