Killer of Arab Taxi Driver does not suffer mental illness

author Friday March 13, 2009 22:52author by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agencies Report this post to the editors

After the Israeli Magistrates Court decided on Thursday that the Jewish man who killed an Arab taxi driver in 2007 is unfit to stand trial, a psychiatric specialist said that the killer does not suffer any mental illness.

Taiseer Karaki - Image by Arabs48

The victim was identified as Taiseer Karaki, 24.

Israeli newspaper, Maariv, reported a psychiatrist evaluated Julien Soufir 45 days before he committed his crime, and determined that there was no proof or indication that the man is suffering from a mental illness.

One of the documents presented to the court proved that Soufir's wife filed a complaint against him in March of 2007, claiming that he had threatened to killer her.

After the incident, Soufir was examined by a psychiatrist who determined that there was no indication that the man is suffering from any mental illness or any symptoms that required treatment.

Based on this decision, Soufir was let go and 45 days later, and on may 14 of 2007, he killed the Arab Taxi driver.

Sufir did not deny the crime; he testified that he stabbed Karaki 24 times in the neck, and added that he committed this crime because he hates Arabs.

Directly after he was arrested by the police he said. “I did not feel anything after killing him, I slaughtered a sheep, all Arabs are like sheep”.

On the day of the crime, Sufir, who carries Israeli and French citizenships, asked the Arab taxi driver to take him to Natanya where his brother lives.

In Natanya, Sufir went to his brother's apartment and took a knife before returning to the taxi and asking Karaki to drive him to his apartment in Tel Aviv.

After arriving in Tel Aviv and reaching the apartment, the assailant asked the Arab driver if he would like to rest and use the toilet. The cab driver went up and used the toilet.

Sufir waited near the bathroom door, and as Karaki stepped out of the Bathroom, Sufir stabbed him 24 times in the neck and stole 60 NIS from his pockets. Later on Sufir drove the cab to Netanya.

http://www.imemc.org/article/59333