IDF reduces sentence of elite soldier who accidentally killed friend

The soldier’s successful completion of rehabilitation and expression of remorse contributed to the shortening of his prison term by the IDF parole board.

By World Israel News staff 

The soldier from an elite Israeli military unit who accidentally shot and killed his comrade last year has received a reduced sentence and is to be released from prison ahead of the Passover holiday.

The IDF’s parole board announced that the soldier, identified as N., will be released on April 19th, due to his ability to undergo rehabilitation in jail, his admission of guilt, and his expression of remorse.

The soldier, from the military’s Duvdevan unit, had killed St.-Sgt. Shachar Strug.

N. admitted to shooting Strug while the two were playing with their weapons. The charges against him were downgraded from murder to causing death by negligence due to his combat service and contribution to the unit, said the IDF in a statement.

He was convicted in July and sentenced to 18 months in prison as well as 12 months of probation. He was also lowered in rank from first sergeant to private.

Strug was killed when N.’s pistol was fired without a safety plug as the two were waiting for a training exercise on an IDF base in the center of the country. Strug was evacuated to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

According to the IDF committee’s report on the incident, N. confessed immediately to his commanders, saying, “What have I done? I killed my friend, I ruined my life.” During a hearing at the Jaffa Military Court, he burst into tears and apologized to Strug’s parents.

The inquiry into Strug’s death led investigators to a few other incidents of illegal use of firearms by Duvdevan soldiers, though no one was killed in any of those incidents.