On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the Nazareth District Court held the second hearing in the trial of Denis Boukine, the killer of martyr Diar Amri from the village of Sandala in the Marj Ibn Amer region. Boukine resides in the settlement of Gan Ner. The session continued the interrogation of Boukine by the state prosecutor, following a previous hearing on May 12, which was dedicated to questioning by his defense attorney.
Attorney Mustafa Suheil Mahameed from the Meezaan Organization for Human Rights, who is accompanying the Amri family, stated that the prosecutor exposed clear contradictions in Boukine’s various statements, both during the initial police investigation and later in court. “It appears that Boukine crafted his narrative in stages, likely based on legal advice,” Mahameed said. “The prosecutor skillfully revealed these contradictions, especially the sudden claim that Diar was a ‘terrorist’—a detail absent from his original testimony.”
Mahameed noted that these claims seem aimed at garnering sympathy from the Israeli public and influencing the court’s direction by appealing to the biases of state officials and judges. He added, “Following this interrogation, the defense is expected to summon witnesses, after which the case will move to the closing arguments phase—one of the final stages in the trial.”
During the session, the prosecutor questioned Boukine about the amount of alcohol he consumed prior to committing the crime. Boukine admitted to drinking three to four bottles of beer (approximately one liter), while the prosecution cited police findings indicating he drank five to six bottles (about 1.5 liters) before carrying out the killing.
Under further questioning, Boukine was asked why he shot Diar Amri despite the fact that Amri posed no threat. Boukine claimed he believed Amri was heading toward his vehicle to retrieve a weapon. “I shot him before he reached the vehicle because I felt he intended to kill me,” he said. When asked why he fled the scene without offering assistance, Boukine replied, “I assumed the police and paramedics would arrive within minutes. There was no reason for me to stay. What mattered was that I saved my own life.”
A video of Boukine’s police interrogation was played during the session, in which he stated: “I don’t care about his life or who he is. It was either his life or mine.” He alleged that the altercation began when he overtook Amri’s car, after which Amri shouted at him aggressively. Boukine then fired warning shots into the air. When asked why his testimony changed over time, Boukine said he hadn’t fully processed the details of the incident initially.
Diar’s father, Ahmad Amri, said: “The case is clear. The details of my son’s cold-blooded execution are documented and known to all. The investigations confirm the killer’s racism and deliberate intent to murder. A case like this should have been resolved long ago.” He added, “To see your son’s killer in front of you, hearing the details of the murder without being able to do anything, is extremely painful. We will never forget Diar’s martyrdom.”
The court concluded by setting the timeline for the next steps in the trial. The prosecution’s written closing arguments are due on July 17, followed by the defense’s written summaries on September 5. An oral session for final arguments from both sides will take place on September 15. A ruling on Boukine’s guilt will be scheduled afterward, followed by a sentencing hearing.
