Suspected Wife Beater Tells Judge, “I Will Kill Her,” as Custody Is Extended

The Hadera Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday extended by one day the detention of an Umm al-Fahm resident who was arrested four days earlier after his partner accused him of assaulting her in front of their children. He is due to appear again on Thursday for a third hearing in the case.

Judge Rania Sarogi wrote that the complainant’s testimony indicated there were two key witnesses to the incident, but the children had still not been questioned, even though there was an indication they were present and, according to the mother, separated the suspect from her. She also said she reviewed the suspect’s criminal record and asked whether any alternative to detention could reduce the danger, but was told there was no third-party guarantor, only personal undertakings and a financial deposit.

Sarogi said that, weighing the complaint, the witnesses, the suspect’s past record and the lack of an alternative, she was convinced that releasing him, or even shortening his detention at this stage, could obstruct the investigation. She added that there was reasonable cause to believe that if released he could endanger a person or the public.

While the judge was reading out her ruling, the suspect shouted, “I will kill her and go to life imprisonment.”