High Court: No criminal investigation will be opened against the police officers in the Kastelman case
The High Court of Justice rejected the petition by the Kastelman family against the decision not to open a criminal investigation into the police officers who handled the investigation into the death of Yuval Kastelman. The judges criticized deficiencies in the police investigation but ruled there was no grounds to intervene in the decision of the Attorney General.
The High Court of Justice rejected the petition by the family of the late Yuval Kastelman against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and upheld the decision not to open a criminal investigation against Jerusalem District Police personnel involved in investigating his death. The family petitioned after the Attorney General dismissed their appeal against the decision of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash). Kastelman was shot dead on November 30, 2023, during a terror attack at the Givat Shaul junction in Jerusalem. Two terrorists opened fire on civilians at a bus stop, killing three and wounding others. Kastelman, who was passing by on his way to work, got out of his car with his personal weapon and helped neutralize the terrorists. He then threw down his gun, removed his coat, knelt, and raised his hands to avoid being identified as a terrorist, but was shot by reserve soldier Aviad Frija. Justice David Mintz criticized the police conduct, stating that "many deficiencies were found in the initial investigation," but ruled there was no grounds to intervene in the Attorney General's decision. Justices Mintz, Ruth Ronen, and Yael Viner expressed condolences to the family and praised Kastelman's courage.