Israel’s State Attorney’s Office has filed a serious indictment in Beersheba District Court against two young men from the city, 21-year-old Itay Dekel and 19-year-old Nahman Biton, over the alleged stabbing of a 45-year-old driver after a brief road dispute. They are charged with aggravated grievous injury, and Dekel is also accused of illegally carrying a knife. Biton faces an additional charge of obstructing a police officer in the line of duty.
According to the indictment, filed by attorney Idan Ivgi of the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, the incident happened about a month ago in Beersheba while the complainant was driving with his 78-year-old mother. After an argument at a red light and a dangerous overtaking maneuver, the driver stopped the defendants by cutting in front of them and got out of his car to complain. He reportedly told Biton, “Friend, that’s not how you do it and you don’t drive like that, if you want to cut in, at least turn on a blinker.” Biton allegedly replied, “Do you have a problem?”
The victim then drove away, believing the matter was over, but minutes later, after parking and opening his trunk, the two allegedly arrived after tracking him. Dekel came out holding a sharp object and Biton brought a dog. Prosecutors say Dekel stabbed the man several times in the leg and once in the stomach, then said, “Look what I did to your leg,” or words to that effect. He then allegedly asked Biton to release the dog to intimidate the victim.
The wounded driver, who was bleeding, moved to a nearby bench before the suspects fled. He was taken to hospital. Dekel later returned to collect the car left at the scene. Biton allegedly fled after seeing police at his home, remained missing for about two weeks, and was later spotted in a shopping complex in the city. When officers followed him into a restaurant and identified themselves, he allegedly threw a knife at them. Both suspects were arrested and questioned.
In the detention request, Ivgi said there is a reasonable basis to fear they would endanger the public, arguing that “a minor dispute led to severe violence.” The case was investigated by the Beersheba South police station.
