TOM HURNDALL DIES AS FAMILY RECEIVE NEWS OF THE INDICTMENT OF HIS KILLER
Tom Hurndall , the British Photographer shot in Gaza while shepherding young children out of the line of fire, died last
night at 7.45pm . His death came nine months after an incident in which he was shot in the head by an IDF soldier which
left him in a vegetative state. The traumatic nature of his injuries has meant that at any time Tom has been vulnerable
to serious infection and his death came after his body was unsuccessful in overcoming an episode of Pneumonia.
At a hearing on Monday, a soldier arrested last week in connection with the shooting of Tom Hurndall, has finally been
indicted on six charges : Aggravated Assault; two counts of Obstruction of Justice; Incitement to False Testimony; False
Testimony; Improper Conduct.
The decision of the court to prosecute the soldier on a charge of Aggravated Assault rather than attempted murder is
based on the assumption that the soldier did not intend to murder Tom. The family believes that based on its own
extensive investigation and the soldiers testimony that he shot Tom using an advanced telescopic lens, it is improbable
that the shot which entered Tom's forehead was intended to do anything other than kill.
The family will be pressing its lawyers to ensure that the appropriate charge - murder, is applied in this case. The
family lawyers were advised by the prosecuting judge yesterday afternoon that in the event of Tom's death, the charges
are likely to be changed. The new charges shall be either manslaughter or murder. The maximum penalty for Manslaughter
is 20 years imprisonment and for Murder there is only one penalty - life imprisonment.
Tom's family have made it clear that they will be satisfied with nothing less than the full prosecution for the person
responsible for murdering Tom and they expect the imposition of the maximum penalty in this respect. They additionally
expect that the harshest penalties should be imposed on all those involved in the obstruction of justice.
NB: A second soldier has been detained and is expected to be indicted on charges of Obstructing Justice and False
Testimony.
The indictment of this soldier and his testimony have totally destroyed the credibility of the initial IDF investigation
and Field Report. It was this Field Report - presented to the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and later to the family of Tom
Hurndall last May, that totally exonerated the soldier(s) responsible in the shooting of Tom Hurndall. It is very much
the case that if it were not for the ceaseless campaigning and lobbying on the part of Tom Hurndall's family and friends
and in particular the family's own investigation (which amassed 14 independent eye witness statements along with
photographic and ballistic evidence) a military police investigation is not likely to have been instigated and the truth
would have remained uncovered. The family now assert that the existing initial inquiry procedure is by its nature flawed
and prone to abuse and they ask that the IDF immediately review its initial inquiry procedure with a view to replacing
it with an independent inquiry.
They further call on the Israeli Army to radically examine the current rules of engagement and to take steps to
eradicate the existing culture of impunity which exists in the Occupied Territories. The family hope that the
prosecution of those responsible for the shooting of Tom Hurndall and the prosecution of those responsible for the
deliberate fabrication of evidence, will send the strongest message to all soldiers on the ground in the Occupied
Territories 'that the shooting or killing of innocent civilians and breaches in basic human rights will not be
tolerated.'
END
For further information please contact Carl Arrindell - Family spokesperson on 07799 768768 or 07956 997 497. Email
carl@tomhurndall.co.uk
Also, please see: www.palsolidarity.org
www.tomhurndall.co.uk
www.ism-london.org/tom-action.html
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London:
Emergency Vigil to demand that Tony Blair makes a statement and calls for assault charges against the Israeli soldier
that shot Tom to be increased to murder: Wednesday 14 January (this evening) 5.30pm outside 10 Downing Street
Bring candles, placards, media. For further info contact info@ ism-london.org or visit
http://www.ism-london.org/tom-action.html (for action information and also to download posters, leaflets and press
release)
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Chicago:
Please join Brian Avery & ISM Chicago
For an Emergency Response Action at 12 noon on January 15. Meeting will be in Tribune Plaza beginning at 11:30AM. Please
bring signs that read “I AM TOM HURNDALL”, candles and whatever you think appropriate. At 12 noon, there will be a march
in solemn procession to the front of the Israeli Consulate.
Endorsing organizations: Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, SUSTAIN, Palestine Solidarity Group, International
Action Center and Peace Pledge – Chicago.
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INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT www.palsolidarity.org Tel: +972-67-473-308 Email: info@palsolidarity.org