 During the sentencing hearing on 24 January, Azaria's defense team asked the court to toss out the manslaughter conviction over the alleged offer by IDF to his father for a lenient sentence, claiming "tampering" with legal proceedings.The court rejected tossing out the verdict and added the hearings will continue but stated it would revisit the allegations later.His father also appealed for lenient sentencing, asking it to consider Azaria's service and character as well as the physical and psychological health problems being faced by the family since the trial began.