Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Murder of Rasha Stawi in Maghar
The Central District Court on Wednesday sentenced Nidal Dagher to life imprisonment plus an additional two years for the murder of Rasha Stawi in the town of Maghar in 2021. Dagher was also convicted of assaulting a minor. The court found that Dagher had planned the murder in advance, acquiring an unlicensed motorcycle and a handgun. He shot Stawi at close range in front of her 10-year-old daughter, who was attempting to hide behind her mother.
The court, presided over by Judge Esther Hellman, stated that the murder occurring in front of the victim's daughter constituted a separate and distinct act, causing profound psychological harm and justifying an additional cumulative sentence alongside the mandatory life term. The initial police investigation suspected the murder was financially motivated, but no evidence was found to support this, leaving the motive unknown.
In addition to the prison sentences, Dagher's driver's license was suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay the maximum legal compensation of 258,000 shekels to Stawi's family. Of this amount, 100,000 shekels were allocated to the daughter who witnessed the murder, and another 100,000 shekels to her two other minor children. The remaining sum was distributed among Stawi's six siblings. The compensation for the minor children will be held in a special account until they reach adulthood, though funds can be accessed for necessary psychological treatment.
Tawfiq Stawi, Rasha's cousin, expressed shock following the murder, stating, "She was murdered in cold blood in her home while living her normal life with her children. She was a very quiet girl, and we had no prior knowledge of anything. We received the news in a horrific manner, especially on the day commemorating the fight against violence against women. We are in shock and trust the police will do their job."
Dagher had a prior conviction in 2017 for "trafficking in means of combat," for which he served 14 months in prison.
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