This morning until the afternoon hours, the Court of Justice handled the criminal case brought by the Public Prosecutor’s Office against Israel Paesch (40). He is accused of shooting and killing his cousin, Rene Paesch, on August 23, 2025.
It was understood that the Prosecutor finds that Israel provoked Rene into going to Israel’s house, where he shot and killed him. Taking into account the reports from a psychologist and a psychiatrist indicating that Israel is less responsible for his actions during the shooting, the Prosecutor demanded a 13-year prison sentence.
Fight at Lekker Bar
On the night of August 23, 2025, Israel went out with a lady named M. The lady stated that Israel drank a few beers and talked about his problems. Later, around 4:00 AM, they went to Lekker Bar. When they left around 5:00 AM, someone severely assaulted Israel, after which Israel went home. Israel told the Judge he does not remember much. He claimed that due to the assault, he lost consciousness, and when he woke up, he saw it was Rene. He stated that Rene unexpectedly started assaulting him. The Judge asked Israel if there was any conversation between them. According to Israel, he does not remember very well, but he told Rene to stop beating him. He said he does not remember how he arrived at M.’s house. Israel told the Judge that he had previously suffered cerebral hemorrhages three times due to past assaults.
The Judge pointed out that according to security cameras, at 5:22 AM, Rene got on his motorcycle and left Lekker Bar. The Judge further noted that according to the police investigation of Israel’s cell phone, Israel called a man named A. at 5:36 AM. According to Israel, a man named M. came to pick him up after the shooting to take him to hide in the bushes. The Judge pointed out that according to the police investigation, Israel told man A. to help him and pick him up because Rene had assaulted him again. Israel claimed not to remember that. He said he only remembers that M. picked him up and hid him in the bushes.
Shooting at Sabania Abao
The Judge stated that early that morning, there was a shooting at a house in Sabania Abao. This was the house that Rene was looking after for a man named G.C., who was in Colombia. Israel told the Judge he knew nothing about it. The Judge pointed out that several witnesses reported hearing gunshots after 5:00 AM. Afterwards, they saw Israel’s car, followed by Rene and another motorcycle. The police went to the house and found 5 bullet impacts and 3 casings. The investigation shows that the casings match the weapon Israel used to shoot Rene. The Judge said this creates the suspicion that Israel shot at the house in Sabania Abao. Israel maintained he knew nothing about it.
Israel stated that he had owned the pistol for about 6 months, having bought it because he feared for his life. He told the Judge that someone offered him the weapon and he purchased it. He said the weapon was hidden at his house under a gas cylinder and that he never told anyone he possessed a firearm.
The Judge stated that according to the police investigation, the pistol is the exact same weapon used in the shooting at the house in Sabania Abao. Israel told the Judge he does not remember if he used the weapon there. He did admit that he used the weapon at his house. Israel told the Judge that when he took the lady M. to her house, he saw the pistol in the car. He told the Judge that Rene often came to his house with other armed individuals. The Judge asked if he had filed a police report. According to Israel, he thought that if he filed a report, his problems would only get bigger. He told the Judge that failing to report it to the police was his mistake. Israel added that wherever Rene saw him, Rene would assault him.
The Judge noted that there are images of different routes Israel drove that morning. The Judge stated that based on camera footage from Coba Lodo near Israel’s house, Rene appeared to be following behind Israel. Israel stated he does not remember any of that.
Shooting his cousin dead
The Judge stated that the shooting of Rene took place at Israel’s house in Coba Lodo. The Judge asked Israel what happened. Israel said he was parked inside his car when he heard Rene shouting. When he got out, Rene was behind the car. According to Israel, he was still bleeding from the assault at Lekker Bar. He told the Judge that Rene told him, “Now I am going to kill you.” Israel had the weapon in his hand and shot Rene. The Judge asked Israel if he saw Rene with a weapon. According to Israel, he knew Rene always carried a weapon, so at that moment he thought: it’s either me or Rene. He saw Rene’s upper body, took no chances, and fired. As it turned out, Rene did not have a weapon on him at that moment. According to Israel, Rene kept walking toward him and they began to fight. At that moment, Israel’s brother, G., was shouting at them to stop. Israel stated that at that moment, he did not know he had wounded Rene because he did not see any blood.
The Judge asked Israel if he fought to finish Rene off or to defend himself. According to Israel, he fought to defend himself.
The Judge stated that Israel’s brother, G., told the police that he heard gunshots and went outside. He saw two people fighting and saw Israel on top of Rene. He took the pistol away from Israel and placed it on a chicken coop. Another witness, a woman, said she heard 3 gunshots and went to look. She saw a motorcycle with its engine running thrown on the ground. She saw Rene on the ground, and G. and Israel were beating him. She screamed at them, asking what they were doing, at which point they stopped. She saw that Rene had blows to his face and was breathing heavily. She went inside to get her phone and call the police. She then saw Israel go inside, come back out, approach Rene, and assault him again. Afterwards, she heard Israel say: “I killed him.” When the woman approached Rene, she saw him take his last breath and pass away.
Filmed by police cameras
The Judge stated that by coincidence, the police had a camera recording audio and video in the neighborhood for an ongoing surveillance operation, which happened to capture everything. The police surveillance was targeted at drug sales. The camera shows the moment Israel’s car arrives home, and a few seconds later, Rene’s motorcycle arrives and falls over, after which 4 gunshots are heard. The Judge said it is possible that Israel arrived home, went to grab the weapon, went back to the car, and shot Rene as soon as he arrived. The Judge stated that from the audio recording, the motorcycle can be heard skidding on the dirt and falling while the engine kept running. Afterwards, Rene can be heard saying: “Shoot me then, shoot me.” There are conversations where the lady can be heard screaming at Israel, and Israel can be heard saying: “I am going to kill you, man.” More arguments were also heard. It was Israel himself who called the police. The Judge stated that Israel’s brother, G., said he took the weapon away from Israel and put it on top of a chicken coop. He showed the police where he left the weapon, and the police recovered it. The police noted that Rene had blows to his head and was missing several teeth.
According to the pathologist, three gunshots caused internal bleeding. The pathologist added that the pistol was likely also used to strike the victim on the head while he was still alive. A DNA investigation was conducted, and no DNA from G. was found on Rene. The police found gunpowder residue on G.’s hands. The Judge stated this probably happened when G. grabbed the weapon to place it on the chicken coop.
Assault issues and money debts
According to Israel, the problem between him and Rene stems from an armed robbery in 2018 and the division of the stolen money. Israel was released from the KIA prison before Rene. The dispute involves 3,500 florins that Rene claimed Israel owed him. According to Israel, Rene kept insisting on this and assaulted him every time. There were already arguments inside KIA back in 2018, as well as confrontations at Well Well, a few months later at Casuela, and finally at Lekker Bar. Israel expressed that he deeply regrets what happened. He told the Judge that he had spoken with friends to find a way to stop the feud, as people were tired of seeing two cousins constantly fighting. The Judge remarked that Israel’s admission that he bought a weapon to defend himself shows that he was prepared. According to Israel, his house had been shot at twice, and he was terrified for his life.
Drugs
The Judge stated that as part of the investigation, the police found 465.2 grams of cocaine in an apartment at the house where Israel lives. According to Israel, the drugs did not belong to him. He told the Judge that he gave a Spanish-speaking couple a ride at night, and the next day he found a bag with drugs in his car. He then hid it in the apartment. The Judge stated he found this story very strange and asked why Israel did not take the drugs to the police. According to Israel, he did not want to go because the police would interrogate him. He told the Judge he made a mistake in doing this. He added that he hid the drug baggies in different parts of the apartment and had no intentions with them.
Diminished responsibility for his actions
Israel has already been detained for 10 months. In 2018, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison for armed robbery. This case led to the conflict between Israel and Rene. Reports were prepared by a psychologist and a psychiatrist. They indicated that Israel had a difficult childhood due to instability in the home. The experts showed that this is why Israel suffered from frequent headaches. They diagnosed Israel with an antisocial mental disorder where he cannot adhere to agreements. When facing antisocial situations, he acts on impulse. The experts concluded that Israel has diminished responsibility for what happened. They noted that smoking marijuana and alcohol use played a large role. The experts believe Israel needs treatment under the guidance of the Probation Service (Reclasering).
Israel told the Judge he is very worried about his daughter, who is now 9 years old. Before turning himself in to the police, he went to talk to his daughter to tell her he could not keep his promise to take care of her. The daughter now lives with Israel’s mother and visits Israel at KIA. The Judge pointed out that Israel told the psychiatrist he was willing to serve 8 years in prison for what he did. Israel confirmed this was true and that he is very worried about his child.
Damages claim
Attorney mr. Ras, representing the victim’s sister, M., demanded 9,075 florins for funeral expenses, 10,000 florins for the shock M. suffered upon hearing her brother was shot dead, and 2,000 florins in legal fees. The lawyer stated they could not present a list of psychologist expenses yet because they haven’t received an appointment. Attorney mr. Ras told the Judge that M. went to Coba Lodo to see where her brother Rene was shot dead and went to the hospital to see his body, which left her in shock.
Prosecutor demands 13 years of prison
The Prosecutor told the Judge it is proven that on August 23, 2025, Israel shot and killed his cousin Rene. The Prosecutor pointed out there were several calls reporting a shooting in Coba Lodo. The police arrived and found Rene lying dead on the ground. Some people stated that Israel’s brother, G., also fought with Rene. G. was detained for investigation and later released. Israel fled the scene and later turned himself in. The Prosecutor stated the investigation shows Rene suffered two gunshots to the chest and one to the left hand. The pathologist showed that Rene died from internal bleeding, and also had blows to his head and a broken tooth that had entered a lung. One shot punctured a lung. There are indications that Rene was beaten on the head with the butt of the pistol. The Prosecutor stated it is a fact that Israel and Rene had a conflict related to an armed robbery. According to Israel, Rene set his boat on fire and shot at Israel’s house twice. In the Prosecutor’s opinion, on the other hand, there are indications that Israel assaulted Rene with a glass to the face a few years ago, a claim for which the sister M. presented evidence.
Israel provoked Rene to shoot him dead
The Prosecutor pointed out that on August 23, 2025, Israel was at Lekker Bar and was assaulted by Rene while Israel was in his car. Israel took his female friend M. home, and afterwards, the shooting occurred at Israel’s house. The Prosecutor explained that the police were conducting a drug surveillance operation near Israel’s house using special equipment to film and listen to conversations. Israel’s conversations and movements in his car in front of his house were recorded. In the Prosecutor’s view, this indicates that Israel went to retrieve the pistol. There was a shooting at the house in Sabania Abao. Afterwards, at Coba Lodo, Israel’s car is seen parked in front of his house, alongside Rene’s motorcycle. The investigation showed that the impacts on the house in Sabania Abao match Israel’s pistol. The Prosecutor finds that all these movements indicate an act of revenge by Israel, first at Sabania Abao and later at his house in Coba Lodo.
On the surveillance camera footage, Israel can be seen arriving at his house, and a short while later, Rene arrives on a motorcycle. Rene can be heard saying: “Don’t shoot me.” A moment later, 4 shots are heard. Afterwards, Rene is heard saying: “Kill me.” Then, blows can be heard as G. and Israel beat Rene. According to the Prosecutor, there are indications that Israel hit Rene on the head with the weapon. Israel himself stated he had the weapon and might have hit Rene with it. Israel called the police using his mother’s phone. The investigation showed the call was made after Israel shot Rene. The Prosecutor points out indications that Israel intentionally shot Rene. Israel claimed he feared Rene would kill him. During the fight, Israel can be heard telling Rene, “I am going to kill you.” The Prosecutor told the Judge he does not find that Israel had a premeditated plan, so it cannot be classified as murder (moord), but rather manslaughter (doodslag). Israel possessed a firearm, and his brother G. showed police where he hid the weapon after taking it from Israel. The Prosecutor added that police found 465 grams of cocaine in Israel’s apartment and dismissed Israel’s story about a Spanish-speaking couple leaving it in his car. The Prosecutor finds that self-defense does not apply, as Israel himself sought out the confrontation. Following the incident at Lekker Bar, Israel sought revenge against Rene and provoked him. The Prosecutor believes Israel went to shoot at the house in Sabania Abao to provoke Rene into coming to his house. The Prosecutor pointed out that Israel could have fired a warning shot, run away, or called for help, but instead fired 4 shots at Rene’s upper body. The Prosecutor took into account the psychological and psychiatric reports, demanding 13 years in prison for Israel, and requested that Israel be ordered to pay 11,000 florins in damages with an enforcement measure.
After hearing the defense attorney’s arguments, the Judge announced that the verdict will be delivered on July 10, 2026.