Man Sentenced to Life for Murdering Woman in Front of Daughter

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional four years for the brutal murder of a woman in front of her young daughter. Nidal Dagher, 37, was convicted of aggravated murder, child abuse, obstruction of justice, and serious traffic offenses in the killing of Rasha Sitawi, 35, a resident of Ma'ar. The court in Nazareth also ordered Dagher to pay the maximum compensation allowed by law, 258,000 shekels, to Sitawi's minor children and brother.

The murder occurred on November 25, 2021, when Dagher arrived at Sitawi's home, where her 10.5-year-old daughter was present. Wearing a helmet, Dagher entered the home and produced a handgun. Sitawi attempted to hide behind her daughter, but Dagher approached them and shot her once in the head from less than two meters away. After she fell, he approached again and fired two more shots at close range.

Dagher fled the scene, disposed of the motorcycle, weapon, helmet, and coat, and was arrested a week later when he returned for the motorcycle. Evidence presented in court indicated the murder was premeditated, with Dagher taking steps to conceal his identity, including removing the motorcycle's license plate and wearing a helmet.

A key legal point was whether the child abuse charge warranted separate, cumulative sentencing. Dagher's defense argued it was part of the murder, but the prosecution successfully contended that the profound and lasting psychological trauma inflicted on the child, who witnessed her mother's murder and the "coup de grâce," justified additional punishment. The judges agreed, stating the child's witnessing of the event had "devastating and immeasurable consequences on her psyche" and that this "destructive harm" required tangible additional punishment to express societal condemnation and deter others.