'Attack on Beinish was premeditated'

Jerusalem Magistrate's Court hears case of Pini Cohen, who threw a shoe on the chief justice. Police claim Cohen is 'obsessed with several judges, primarily Beinish'; defense argues incident was protest gone awry

Aviad Glickman|Published: 02.01.10 , 18:02

Jerusalem Magistrate's Court Judge Alexander Ron will rule next week whether to remand the man accused of throwing a shoe on Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish, Ynet learned.

The incident took place last week during a Supreme Court hearing, when Pini Cohen – a court spectator – threw a shoe at the bench, hitting Beinish in the face and luckily causing her only a slight injury.

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Cohen was arraigned Monday. During the hearing, police representative Attorney Dalia Zaltsman, said that Beinish was attacked solely due to her being a judge, and that Cohen's history showed that he has developed a sever and dangerous obsession towards several judges and primarily the chief justice.

Cohen, she continued, is convinced that Beinish bears personal and full responsibility for several rulings against him, which he sees as unjust. According to records Zaltsman entered into evidence, Cohen has 11 previous convictions, for harassment, conspiracy to commit a crime and menacing, among others, and he served two prison sentences.

The police further claim that Cohen's behavior has escalated over time, culminating in his assault of Beinish, which toolk place in mid-hearing of a case he was not party to.

Zaltsman further argued that Cohen's act was premeditated, alleging he began showing up at hearings presided over by the chief justice four months ago.

The defense, on the other hand, claimed that Cohen meant Beinish no harm and that his action was meant as one of protest, meant to merely jolt the justice system.

The defense further argued that Cohen posed no danger to any judge and asked he be released to house arrest pending a review by the Parole Service.