An ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremist who fatally stabbed a teenage girl marching at a gay pride parade in Jerusalem last year has been convicted of murder, an Israeli court announced.
Yishai Shlissel, 40, was also convicted of six counts of attempted murder by the Jerusalem District Court Tuesday for his attacks on others during the knife rampage.
Shira Banki, 16, died from her injuries days after the attack last July.
Her killing stunned Israelis, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing it at the time as “a despicable hate crime.”
Shlissel, who was arrested at the scene, had been released from prison only three weeks before he carried out the attack.
He had served 10 years for a similar attack at a gay pride parade in Jerusalem in 2005, in which several people were injured.
Banki’s family said in a statement last year that the teen had been marching in the parade to support her friends.
“Our charming, happy, lively and beloved 16-year-old Shira was murdered just because she came to support her friends and any person’s right to live their life their own way,” read the statement.
“With no purpose but with stupidity, evilness and recklessness, her life came to an end.”
No date has yet been set for Shlissel’s sentencing.