Israeli Court Orders U.S. Teen Sought in Killing Held Longer

JERUSALEM — An Israeli court on Sunday ordered a Maryland teenager accused in a brutal killing in the United States to be held for 15 more days while officials decide whether to extradite him.

Israel’s Justice Ministry must decide whether to meet a U.S. request to send 17-year-old Samuel Sheinbein back to the United States for prosecution.

Sheinbein is accused of killing Alfred Tello, 19, in Maryland in September. He and another teenager have been indicted in Maryland on murder and conspiracy charges.

Sheinbein is fighting extradition, claiming Israeli citizenship through his father, who was born in pre-state Palestine in 1944 and left Israel with his family six years later. Under Israeli law, citizens cannot be extradited.

Udi Grofman, one of Sheinbein’s lawyers, says Sheinbein is clearly an Israeli citizen and should therefore “stay right here.”

Israel’s attorney general and Justice Ministry are taking the position that Sheinbein is not a citizen and thus can be extradited.

Sheinbein, handcuffed and shackled, looked red-eyed and tired during his brief appearance in Jerusalem’s Magistrates Court. He sat quietly in the courtroom waiting for his hearing, yawning often and whispering questions to his lawyer.

The Justice Ministry received the U.S. extradition request last week. If approved after a review by Justice Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, the state would ask the Jerusalem District Court to order Sheinbein’s extradition.

The U.S. Congress had threatened to hold up some of Israel’s $3 billion in annual aid if it did not take steps to extradite Sheinbein.