Court Proposes Reducing Conviction of Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run of Young Boy in Netanya

Carole Pasler, an 81-year-old woman from Netanya, who was convicted of leaving the scene after fatally hitting four-year-old Rafael Adna in May 2023, has appealed her conviction to the Lod District Court. Pasler's defense, led by attorney Shahar Mendelman, argues that the traffic court in Petah Tikva erred in ruling that Pasler was aware she had hit a child and continued driving, contending instead that the case should be classified as negligent leaving the scene rather than intentional.

The appeal centers on whether Pasler knew she struck Rafael. The defense claims that after hearing a "boom" and seeing her side mirror break, Pasler believed she hit a motorcycle, not a pedestrian, and thus did not realize she had caused injury. Mendelman highlighted medical expert Dr. Gabi Rubinstein’s report, which indicated Pasler had significant visual and cognitive impairments affecting her driving awareness. The defense also criticized the initial police interrogation, citing language barriers and inadequate translation.

During the June 21 hearing, the judges recommended changing Pasler’s conviction from a more severe intentional hit-and-run offense under Section 64a(b) of the Traffic Ordinance to a lesser negligent offense under Section 64a(a). Pasler’s defense accepted this proposal, while the prosecution requested time to consider it. The hearing was postponed to October to allow further deliberation on both the conviction and sentencing appeals.

Pasler was originally convicted on October 28, 2025, after a full trial rejected her claim of unawareness. The prosecution has also appealed the leniency of her sentence. The incident sparked widespread public outrage and protests under the slogan "Justice for Rafael," especially after authorities decided not to charge Pasler with causing the accident itself, citing that the collision was unavoidable due to the pedestrian’s sudden road crossing.

The prosecution maintains that Pasler’s own statements and phone calls after the accident indicate she was aware something serious had occurred. They argue that Pasler’s failure to stop and check the situation, despite seeing a motorcycle briefly in her rearview mirror, supports the original conviction. The final decision on whether to accept the court’s recommendation to reduce the charge remains pending, with the overall case still unresolved.