Dr. Chen Kugel Testifies in Defamation Case Over Forensic Evidence in Tair Rada Murder
Dr. Chen Kugel, head of Israel's National Institute of Forensic Medicine, testified on Wednesday in a defamation lawsuit filed by Ola Kravchenko against the creators of the series "Shadow of Truth," her ex-partner Adir Havni, and attorney Yerom Halevi. The case concerns publications linking Kravchenko to the 2006 murder of Tair Rada. Kugel's testimony focused extensively on forensic findings related to the case, including a pivotal 2018 mitochondrial DNA test that matched a hair found at the crime scene to Havni. Kugel described this discovery as "dramatic" because it was the first forensic evidence connecting a person to the scene and victim, stating, "This was the only forensic evidence linking someone to the scene and the deceased." After confirming the result with a second test, the institute held a meeting with prosecution and defense representatives, followed by a public announcement at the Health Ministry's request.
Kugel testified that following the announcement, the prosecution distanced itself from the institute, accusing it of siding with the defense and diminishing the evidence's value. He emphasized the institute's independence, saying, "I don't think we should be a branch of the prosecution." Kugel also discussed his expert opinions on the murder weapon, asserting that at least some wounds were caused by a serrated blade, based on high-resolution images showing parallel marks consistent with serrations. He rejected claims that bite marks were found on Rada's body, explaining that absence of visible bite marks does not rule out their presence.
Regarding other forensic details, Kugel maintained that a shoe print found on the toilet was made near the time of the murder and likely belonged to the perpetrator. He also stated that a cut on Rada's wrist was postmortem and not a defensive wound. Kugel confirmed no significant movement of the body at the scene aside from rescue efforts. During cross-examination, Kugel acknowledged he is not a geneticist or biostatistician and based his opinions on document and photo analysis rather than personal autopsy involvement. He refused to speculate on the killer's handedness or to provide an expert opinion on a knife without laboratory examination.
The testimony lasted several hours and featured intense legal and scientific debate over key evidence. While the defendants sought to use Kugel's findings to support their claims, the plaintiff's attorney challenged the evidence's reliability and conclusions. The court adjourned without resolving these disputes and will continue hearing evidence after the judicial recess.
