Israeli court convicts stabber of murdering teen in gay parade

An Israeli court convicted Tuesday a Jewish ultra-Orthodox man of murdering a girl and attempting to murder five other people during Jerusalem gay pride parade in 2015.

Yishai Schlissel, 39, was arrested during a stabbing rampage on July 30, 2015, after stabbing and wounding six people. One of the victims, 16-year-old Shira Banki, died of her injuries a few days later.

In 2005, Schlissel was sentenced to ten years in prison for carrying out a similar stabbing attack in the Jerusalem pride parade, injuring three people. He was released from jail only three weeks before perpetrating his second anti-gay attack.

The Jerusalem District Court's ruling criticized the police for knowing about Schlissel and not stopping him. It is "inconceivable" how easily Schlissel arrived at the parade and penetrated the lax security arrangements, they said.

The killing shocked the Israeli society, prompting across the board condemnation by political leaders. Endit