Indictment Filed Against Man in 7-Year-Old Boy's Brutal Murder

An indictment was filed on Monday against Liel Ifargan, 26, of Beit Shemesh, for the murder of 7-year-old Hillel Daddon and the attempted murder of his cousin in Beit Shemesh last month. Ifargan faces charges of murder under aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, and causing severe injury under aggravating circumstances. Prosecutors have requested that he be held in custody until the end of legal proceedings.

The murder occurred on the afternoon of August 17, as the two boys were playing in an inflatable pool in their grandmother's yard. According to the indictment, Ifargan emerged from a nearby housing unit where he resides, armed with a knife. He entered the yard, approached the pool, and fatally stabbed Hillel in the chest and his cousin in the neck, intending to kill them. He then fled back to his unit and cleaned the knife.

The prosecution stated, "It is difficult to grasp the gap between the innocent play of two children in a pool and the defendant's decision to arm himself with a knife and take their lives. The indictment filed today reflects the exceptional severity of the alleged acts and the grave, irreversible outcome they led to."

Hillel's parents, Amos and Tamar Daddon, spoke to the press following the indictment filing. Amos Daddon expressed hope for swift justice, stating, "We hope justice will be served quickly. May we not be shaken too much more and may the family not be abused further, because this has hurt so many people, it's incomprehensible. We are trying to be strong because we have other children."

Tamar Daddon added, "Waking up to a morning like this is a tremendous shock to my soul, I am on the verge of collapse. Help us ensure justice is served quickly." Regarding potential psychiatric evaluations for Ifargan, she said, "I am raising a special needs child and as a mother, I take responsibility for him and never rest, so I do not accept this. Even a psychiatric problem has a range, and it is illogical that a mental issue would ultimately absolve a person of a severe punishment."

Reports indicate Ifargan may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the murder. His family claims he was hospitalized at the Eitanim Mental Health Center several years ago and had recently requested a psychiatric evaluation, but the earliest appointment was not until December.