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Publicdefenderaccusesstateofvengefulness
ChiefPublicDefenderchidesStateProsecutorfortryingtopreventthepromotionofaforensicdoctorwhotestifiedin2010in
favorofRomanZadorov.
ByRevitalHovelandRonnyLinderGanz04:3321.05.14 0
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InaharshlywordedlettertoHealthMinistryDirectorGeneralProf.RoniGamzu,ChiefPublicDefenderDr.YoavSapirattackstheattemptby
PublicDefenderShaiNitzantocanceltheappointmentofDr.MayaFormanReznik,aforensicpatholgogistwhotestifiedinfavorofRoman
Zadorovinthemurdertrialof13yearoldTairRada,toaseniorpositionintheInstituteofForensicMedicine.
InhisletterSapir,whoheadsthePublicDefendersOffice,whichisrepresentingZadorov,andhiredFormanRezniktogiveanopinionregarding
themurderweapon,saidthatalthoughthejudgesoftheNazarethDistrictCourtharshlycriticizedFormanReznikduringhisretrial,therulingin
theSupremeCourtisstillpending,Formanwroteherfavorableopinionwhileshewasstillworkinginaprivateinstitution.
SapirmentionedthatintheletterNitzansenttoGamzuhefailedtonoteaveryimportantfact,thatthedirectoroftheInstituteforForensic
Medicine,Dr.ChenKugel,believesthatFormanReznikbehavedprofessionallyandthatheropinioniscorrect.Buttheprosecutionandthecourt
refusedtoallowhimtotestifyandexplainhisviewpoint.
SapiremphasizedtheimportanceoftheInstituteforForensicmedicineandattackedNitzansinterventionintheappointmentprocess,claiming
thattheprofessionalindependenceoftheinstituteisofutmostimportanceforpublictrust.
HeaddedthataccedingtoNitzansrequestwillaffectthewillingnessofexpertstotestifyforthedefenseandtheirabilitytofreelyexpresstheir
professionalopinion.OverturningDr.FormanRezniksappointmentaftershewonthetendermaysendamessagethattestimonyonbehalfof
thedefensethatisopposedtotheviewoftheprosecution,whichisbeacceptedandiscriticizedbythecourt,willseverelydamagethestatusof
theexpertsandtheirfuturechancesofemploymentbythegovernment.
Itsimportanttounderstandthatadisputebetweenexpertsandthecourtspreferenceofoneexpertoveranotherareamatterofroutine.
DoctorsfromtheInstituteofForensicMedicine,andotherexpertsonbehalfofthestate,presentandpast,havebeencriticizedbythecourts.
Butsuchcriticismhasneverledtoastepasunusualaswhattheprosecutionisaskingforinthiscase..
TheletterwassenttoGamzuwhometwithrepresentativesoftheprosecutionheadedbyNitzan,butthereisnofinaldecisionasyetabout
FormanReznik.ThefinaldecisionmaybemadebythenewdirectorgeneraloftheHealthMinistry,Dr.ArnonAfek,whowillassumetheposition
onJuly1.
AnydecisionregardingFormanReznikwillaffectZadorovsappealofhisconviction,andthereforeconstitutesaconflictofinterestforthe
prosecution.Ifherappointmentiscanceleditwillstrengthenthepositionoftheprosecution,andifnot,itwillcauseembarrassmenttothe
prosecutionwhichwillhavetodealwiththefactthatshedefeatedtheircandidateinthetender.
TheMedicalAssociationisalsosupportingFormanReznik:Itisunconscionablethatinademocraticcountrytherecanevenbeasuspicionthat
inconsequenceofgivingaprofessionalmedicalopinionadoctorsprofessionaladvancementwillbedelayed.TheIsraelMedicalAssociationwill
doeverythinginitspowertodefendanydoctorintheStateofIsraelinsuchcases.
TheStateProsecutorsOfficesaidinresponse:TheargumentsofthePublicDefenderareknownandweretakenintoaccountbeforetheState
ProsecutorsOfficeformulateditsviewpoint.AsmentioednintheStateProsecutorsletter,therehavealreadybeencaseswhenthecourt
preferredtheopinionofthedefensesexperttothatofthestatesexpert,andviceversa.Thecircumstancesinthiscasearehighlyexceptional.
WeshouldrecallthatthethreejudgesoftheNazarethDistrictCourthandeddownexceptionalrulingsregardingbothDr.FormanRezniks
personalreliabilityandherprofessionalreliability.
Thecourtdescribedherworkandherprofessionaljudgmentascarelessandunprofessional.Thetenderscommitteedidnothavethis
informationwhenshewaschosenfortheposition,andthereforetheStateProsecutorbelievesthatitrequiredareexaminationofher
employmentbytheHealthMinistry.Thereisafearthatemployingsuchadoctorwillbeproblematicifshehastogiveanopinionincourtina
criminalcase.ItwasdecidedthattheStateProsecutorandthedirectorgeneraloftheHealthMinistrywillcontinuetoexaminepossiblewaysof
solvingtheproblem.ThedecisionisnotexpectedtoinfluencetheZadorovtrial,andthereforetheclaimofconflictofinterestfortheprosecution
isgroundless.

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