A forensics expert testifying Wednesday in the trial of a soldier accused of killing a subdued terrorist shocked the court by saying that he believes the terrorist had expired before the deadly shooting. Testifying for the defense in the manslaughter trial of Sgt. Elor Azaria, former chief pathologist at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine Yehuda Hiss ruled the terrorist, Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, died of "acute respiratory failure exacerbated by a blood clots to the brain, following a fatal injury to the right lung." Hiss further concluded that "the bullet Azaria fired most likely hit the Palestinian attacker post mortem." The testimony contradicted the autopsy results, according to which it was Azaria's bullet to the head that killed Sharif. Pathologist Hadas Gipes, testifying for the prosecution in June, said that the terrorist's heart was still beating when the bullet struck his head. "Blood was still reaching the area of the wound. This means he was still alive at the time of the incident," she said. Hiss' testimony may significantly impact the trial. Should the court find merit to it, the judge may order to revise the manslaughter charge pending against the soldier. The testimony does, however, also refute Azaria's version of the events, according to which he shot Sharif after seeing him move his hands and fearing he was trying to detonate an explosive device. The line of defense adopted by Azaria's lawyers focuses on convincing the judges that Azaria was not the only soldier who felt that the subdued terrorist posed a threat.
