On Monday, May 12, 2025, the Nazareth District Court held a session in the trial of Denis Mukin, accused of killing martyr Diyar Amri from the village of Sandala. The session focused on hearing the defendant’s testimony regarding the circumstances of the crime, which took place on May 6, 2023.

The Meezaan Organization for Human Rights – Nazareth, has been following the case from its earliest moments. The organization continues to accompany the family of the martyr, coordinate legal and media follow-up in cooperation with the Public Prosecution, and provide professional and emotional support to the family.

Attorney Omar Khamaisi, Director of Meezaan, stated that the killer’s testimony was riddled with contradictions and failed to justify his act of firing three bullets at Amri. “The defendant’s statements were inconsistent at multiple points,” Khamaisi said. “This prompted the judges to intervene and direct several questions to him, in addition to being cross-examined by the prosecutor.”

Khamaisi added that the hearing revolved around the killer’s account of the incident, and that the next session is expected to include further questioning by the prosecution. He emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the case at the societal level, saying, “We must make it clear that Arab blood is not cheap, and that such a crime cannot go unpunished.”

For their part, the family of Diyar Amri expressed their deep pain during the hearing, describing the killer’s testimony as extremely distressing. He recounted in detail how he murdered their only son, which led to the collapse of Diyar’s sister inside the courtroom. The family affirmed their continued pursuit of justice until the killer receives the harshest possible sentence.

During the session, the defendant Mukin presented a series of conflicting claims. At times, he claimed the first bullet was fired accidentally and that he believed Amri was trying to seize his weapon. Later, he alleged that his actions stemmed from fear of a “nationalistic attack,” as he phrased it.

Despite repeated attempts to justify the shooting, the court posed direct questions that exposed the falsity of his account. One of the judges asked: “If you felt in danger, why didn’t you shoot immediately?” to which the defendant stammered: “I felt threatened,” without elaboration. The prosecutor asked: “Is it reasonable to draw a weapon and fire every time someone insults you in the street?” Mukin responded, claiming: “I thought he was a terrorist and posed a real threat to my life.”

The defendant further alleged that he knows all the residents of “Gan Ner,” and when asked why he didn’t simply continue driving instead of stopping and brandishing his weapon, he replied: “I felt there was some danger, so I stopped.”

It is worth noting that this court session took place just days after the second anniversary of Diyar Amri’s killing, during which dozens of community members and activists attended the hearing in solidarity with the family and in demand of justice.