Man Charged with Murdering Brother Over Inheritance Dispute

A 36-year-old man, Ohad Arad, has been indicted for the murder of his older brother, Asa Arad, 41, at their family's property in Moshav Ein Ayala. The indictment alleges that Ohad killed Asa following a long-standing inheritance and financial dispute, which was reportedly known within the local community. According to the charges, Ohad assaulted his brother, suffocating him and leaving him to die in the caravan where Asa lived. Following the incident, Ohad allegedly left the moshav and proceeded to pick up a sushi order for his girlfriend.

The investigation, led by the Menashe District's Central Unit, spanned over a month, partly due to delays in receiving the autopsy report from the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and a psychiatric evaluation from Sha'ar Menashe Hospital to determine Ohad's mental state at the time of the murder and his current fitness to stand trial. The prosecution is seeking to detain Ohad until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

The indictment details that the murder occurred on the morning of July 30th. Ohad reportedly arrived at his brother's caravan, located near their mother's home. The prosecution claims that between 9:06 AM and 11:30 AM, Ohad entered the caravan and attacked his brother, who was naked, with the intent to cause death. The autopsy report describes numerous injuries, including head and neck trauma, signs of pressure on the lips, nose, and neck, a fractured larynx, and bleeding in the tongue and neck muscles, consistent with suffocation.

Evidence presented by the prosecution includes biological findings, security camera footage, communication records, witness testimonies, crime scene documentation, and the forensic report. Investigators also found a bloodstain on a wheelbarrow discovered in Ohad's car trunk. Ohad reportedly told investigators he found his brother unresponsive and attempted resuscitation, claiming his brother's head hit a metal bed frame during the process. However, the prosecution questions why he did not immediately call for help, left the scene for hours, retrieved his phone, and picked up food.

Ohad's mother stated that Ohad had a history of jealousy and violence towards Asa, with the dispute escalating in recent years over financial matters and inheritance. She mentioned a restraining order previously issued against Ohad due to altercations at the family property. The mother also recounted that Ohad had warned her not to enter the caravan, saying something terrible had happened inside. She described finding Asa on the floor with blood on his head.