Military court strikes plea bargain with stone-throwers, which stipulates they will compensate family of four-year-old Adele Bitton
Five Palestinian youths were sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday for hurling stones at a car in an attack that led to the severe injury and later death of 4-year-old Adele Bitton.
In March 2013, Adva Bitton was driving with her toddler daughter in the West Bank when her car was struck by rocks, causing her to veer out of her lane and into a truck. Four-year old Adele suffered serious brain damage. In February 2015, the Israeli toddler died of a lung infection related to a neurological condition developed as a result of the attack, hospital officials said.
The five Palestinians who pelted her car with stones reached a plea bargain with the Samaria Military Court, under which they will serve 15 years in prison and compensate the Bitton family with tens of thousands of shekels apiece, according to Hebrew media reports.
In February 2014, Adva Bitton told journalists following a hearing she was sorry the terrorists would not receive a death sentence.
“It’s a day that brings all emotions to the surface; it all comes back to you,” she said at the time. “Of course the trauma doesn’t ever go away for a minute. I hope the court charges the defendants to the fullest extent of the law and I would be very, very happy if they received a death sentence. Unfortunately it doesn’t exist.”
“I hope I don’t see them released in an exchange [prisoner release],” she added.
As reported by The Times of Israel