Police suspect Mt. Herzl producer of negligent manslaughter

J'lem District Court orders remand of Independence Day event's producer to police custody, after four other suspects released; he may be charged with responsibility for death of 20-year-old IDF officer.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Lighting rig falls at Har Herzl 370 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Lighting rig falls at Har Herzl 370
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
The Jerusalem District Court granted the police's request on Friday to keep one of the suspects in custody who was implicated with responsibility in a fatal accident during preparations for a Jerusalem Independence Day ceremony. The order followed his arrest on Thursday.
The suspect, who was hired as the event's producer, is suspected of negligently causing the death of 20-year-old IDF officer Hila Bezaleli, when a light fixture collapsed on the event's main stage.
The producer, whose identity was withheld, was the fifth suspect a special police investigating team has detained on suspicions of bearing the responsibility for the accident, and the only suspect for whom the court has ordered a remand extension.
On Thursday, police released one suspect, while a judge ordered the release of three people who were arrested in connection with the accident. The Jerusalem District Court will hear a police appeal later Friday against the court's decision to order the release of those three suspects: engineer Oren Warshavsky, safety consultant Isaac Zucker, and the chief operating officer of the company, Stage Design, Elad Lavi.
Following the incident it became unclear whether the event could be held in the same location as planned. The Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs was working hard Friday to obtain all approvals necessary in order to hold the ceremony as planned.
Officials said that it was still possible that the administrative processes might not be completed in time and that the ceremony would need to take place in another location. One possible alternative being considered was in the open area next to the Knesset building.
A final decision regarding the ceremony's location is not expected prior to the beginning of next week.