The teenager suspected of the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Yemanu Zelka on Independence Day was charged with negligent murder in Lod District Court on Sunday, alongside 15 other minors suspected of involvement in the killing.

The 15-year-old accused of stabbing Zelka outside the Pizza Hut where he worked in Petah Tikva was charged with negligent murder, while the 15 other defendants were charged with causing serious bodily harm with intent.

Some of the teens were charged with additional offenses of making threats, obstruction of justice, destroying evidence and conspiracy to assault.

None of the defendants can be named as they are all minors. Prosecutors asked that all of the defendants be held in custody until the end of legal proceedings against them.

Negligent murder offenses — meaning the defendant was aware of the potentially lethal outcome of their actions, but acted nonetheless — and causing serious bodily harm have a maximum sentence of up to twenty years, though the actual sentence is at the discretion of the court.

Zelka was stabbed to death after he had asked the teens not to use party spray in the pizzeria. In a brutal assault that was caught on video, the gang surrounded and beat him, continuing the attack even after he had been stabbed and fallen to the ground.

Ahead of the indictment, police had recommended the harsher charge of aggravated murder against the key suspect, which would carry a mandatory life sentence.

However, prosecutors said Sunday that “for the offense of negligent murder, the court has the authority to impose a life sentence on the stabber, while the other minors can receive heavy and significant prison sentences, and we will do our........

© The Times of Israel