Mezan: We Expect the Verdict Against the Killer to Be Issued by the End of This Year

The Nazareth District Court, with a panel of three judges, continued to hear witnesses for the Israeli prosecution in the case of the murder of martyr Diyar Amari, a resident of the village of Sandala, by the killer Denis Bukin from (Gan Nir) on May 6, 2023.

This week, two additional sessions were held to hear prosecution witnesses, following three sessions held last week. Thus, since the beginning of this month, the court has heard testimonies from numerous police investigators and eyewitnesses who were present at the scene of the crime, as well as from a forensic pathologist from the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.

The five sessions lasted for several hours, during which prosecution witnesses testified in court about the circumstances surrounding the intentional killing of martyr Diyar Amari, particularly the police investigators who interrogated the killer, Denis Bukin.

It is clear from the court sessions in this case that the lawyer defending the killer Bukin continues to adhere to his narrative, which attempts to justify the murder based on claims that have been easily refuted by experts and eyewitnesses who testified during the last five sessions. They presented irrefutable facts and evidence that condemn the killer for committing the premeditated murder of Diyar Amari.

Initially, the defense team for the killer adopted the claim that the gunshots fired from Denis Bukin’s pistol, which killed martyr Diyar, were not intentional. However, after this claim was disproven, the defense shifted to a new narrative, suggesting that “the killing was a result of self-defense,” a claim that was also thoroughly debunked.

With the court going into its summer break, hearings in the case of martyr Diyar Amari’s murder will be paused at this stage, until they resume in November 2024, when the court will begin hearing defense witnesses. The sessions will begin with testimony from the killer, Denis Bukin, who will give his statement in court.

It is worth noting that the atmosphere of sorrow, grief, and emotional distress has surrounded Diyar Amari’s family throughout these hearings, as well as in previous ones. Tension and loud outbursts from the martyr’s parents filled the courtroom whenever the killer was present, especially since the killer had made racist statements during his interrogation, which were a shock to the family and added to their deep sorrow over the tragic loss of their son. Statements such as “every dog has its day” and “death to Arabs” reflect the killer’s deep hatred, racism, and contempt for Arabs. Had the killer, Bukin, fought with someone who was not Arab, the result would likely have been different.

The Mezan Human Rights Foundation in Nazareth has been following the case of martyr Diyar Amari’s murder closely on behalf of the family since the first moment. The foundation monitors the court hearings and ensures that accurate information is communicated to the family in coordination with the prosecution. Mezan has also been following the arrest files of several young men from the village of Sandala, who were detained in connection with the protests that took place in the village after the killing of martyr Diyar Amari in May 2023.

Mezan expects that a verdict against the killer will be issued by the end of this year or at the beginning of the next year. In this context, Mezan reaffirms its continued support for the family of martyr Diyar Amari and its commitment to standing with them until the end. The foundation also reiterates its dedication to helping and supporting all families of victims of racist crimes.

Mezan Human Rights Foundation – Nazareth
July 11, 2024