Israel’s State Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday filed an indictment in Haifa District Court against Samed Jajaa, 43, of Ara, accusing him of reckless murder in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Laila. According to the charge sheet, he fired toward the yard of his home during a family confrontation that escalated after an argument between children.
The indictment, submitted by attorney Yossi Gimel of the Haifa District Prosecutor’s Office, says that about two weeks before the killing, after a dispute between Jajaa’s son and his brother, Jajaa came to his brother’s house armed with a handgun, threatened him, and fired several shots into the air in a residential area.
On the day of the fatal incident, another argument broke out between Jajaa and relatives after his sister criticized his son’s behavior following a fight among the children. Family members tried to calm the situation, but when that failed, Jajaa went into his house, took a handgun he was illegally keeping, and fired at least eight shots from inside toward a wall with a window facing the yard, while relatives were standing outside.
The prosecution says one bullet struck Laila in the head as she stood in the yard. She was taken to hospital and was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Jajaa is also charged with weapons offenses, firing in a residential area, threats, and obstruction of justice. In its detention request, the state said he poses an “extremely high” danger because he used a firearm to resolve ordinary family disputes, endangered those around him, hid the gun after the shooting, and may try to influence witnesses, many of whom are relatives. The prosecution asked that he remain jailed until the end of proceedings.
