Tel Aviv Man Gets Eight Years for Brutal Attack That Led to Woman's Death
A Tel Aviv resident who violently attacked a woman and caused her death will serve only eight years in prison, it was reported Thursday morning on "HaBoker HaZe" on Kan News Radio Reshet Bet. In March 2024, Marina Malinovska was found lifeless after being attacked by Rauf Shmilov, 60, of Tel Aviv. Shmilov was convicted only of aggravated assault and was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison.
Malinovska came to Israel in 2020 from Ukraine, was a victim of trafficking, had no legal status or housing, and was involved in prostitution. During the Iron Swords War, Shmilov severely attacked her with a sharp object and with his fists, causing various injuries, including a wound to her head. A few minutes later, he removed her body from his apartment wrapped in a sheet.
Shmilov was initially charged with murder, but later a report from the National Institute of Forensic Medicine determined that a causal link between the attack and Marina's death could not be established, and the indictment was amended to aggravated assault. The prosecution sought an 11-year prison term, but Judge Maayan Ben Ari of the Tel Aviv District Court ruled that he would serve eight years only.
Shmilov was also convicted of two additional acts of violence against Marina in 2022 and 2023, incidents that were reported to police but at the time were closed. In determining the sentence, Judge Ben Ari took into account the defendant's mental state and the fact that he lacked support systems, despite his failure to take responsibility for his actions.
Naama Goldberg, CEO of the "Lo Omdot Neged" association, which helps women in prostitution, said: "If she had had a family or a community shouting her name and demanding justice, maybe we would have heard more shock. But she was invisible in life, and now she is invisible in death. In fact, this is the hard question, what is the value of the lives among us of a woman in prostitution, of a trafficking victim for whom no one will fight? In my view, this sentence is not only low, it is a terrible message. It says that there are women whose lives count for less, and that is another disgrace upon us all."
The Tel Aviv District Prosecutor's Office said in response: "The prosecution petitioned for an 11-year prison sentence, which in our view reflected the severity of the acts, their scope, and the harm caused to the complainant. At the same time, we believe that the sentence imposed in practice, eight years in prison, is a significant and appropriate sentence under the circumstances, reflecting the seriousness of the offenses and achieving justice for crime victims, while sending a clear message of condemnation and deterrence against ongoing acts of violence."
