(15 Feb 2013) SHOTLIST
Ein Yahav, Israel - 14 February 2013
1. Establishing shot of Avigdor Feldman, a lawyer who met Australian-born Israeli man Ben Zygier before his death
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Avigdor Feldman, lawyer:
"It (Israel) is a democracy because he was not kidnapped or sentenced without trial. He did not disappear in the basic concept of disappearance. It was known to his family what happened with him that he was under, quote, court supervision. He had lawyers. I was able to visit him but the fact that all information about him was excluded from the public and the fact the public did not know is something Israeli democracy failed really to adapt."
3. Cutaway of Feldman
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Avigdor Feldman, lawyer:
"When I was informed he committed suicide I was shocked and amazed because the man I met did not show any indication of somebody who was considering of taking his own life by his own ends. I meet a person who was of course anxious, of course worried about his legal situation but we spoke about different alternatives. How to deal with the trial or to accept a plea bargain. A man who is considering committing suicide is not worried about such matters."
5. Cutaway of Feldman
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Avigdor Feldman, lawyer:
"I remember very clearly that he claimed again and again that he is innocent and that he wants to fight for his innocence and the feeling that he is being pushed to admit something that he did not do."
FILE: Ramla, central Israel - 12 January 2011
7. Wide of exterior of Ayalon prison, where Zygier was held
8. Mid of prison watchtower
Ein Yahav, Israel - 14 February 2013
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Avigdor Feldman, lawyer:
"I thought it was unsuitable for him to be in these (prison) conditions. My experience as a lawyer and dealing with people where they are under such conditions - is that such conditions are very damaging to his mental stability."
Tel Aviv, Israel - 14 February 2013
10. Exterior of Australian embassy
11. Close of Israeli and Australian flag
STORYLINE
A lawyer, who met with an alleged Australian-Israeli Mossad agent only days before his mysterious death two years ago, recalls an individual who wanted to fight for his innocence not one that was contemplating taken his own life.
The story has dominated public discourse in Israel since it was first reported by Australia's public broadcaster on Tuesday.
According to the report, an Australian-born Israeli man, Ben Zygier, who worked for Israel's Mossad spy agency was mysteriously imprisoned by Israel in 2010 and hanged himself several months later in a maximum-security cell.
Zygier also used the names Ben Alon and Ben Allen, the report said.
Avigdor Feldman, a lawyer who met with Zygier shortly, said he was shocked when he heard of his death.
"I meet a person who was of course anxious, of course worried about his legal situation but we spoke about different alternatives. How to deal with the trial or to accept a plea bargain. A man who is considering committing suicide is not worried about such matters," said Feldman on Thursday.
Critics have accused the government of trying to cover up the affair and are demanding a full investigation, fuelling a debate about balancing national security and freedom of information in a country that prides itself as a vibrant democracy.
Despite a whirlwind of foreign media reports easily accessible on the Internet, Israel maintained a gag order on the case for 24 hours.
It said he was detained by court order and that his family was notified immediately afterwards and kept up to date on all developments in the case.
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