Family of October 7 Nova Massacre Victim Demands Justice Over Stolen Sound Equipment

Nearly three years after the October 7 massacre at the Nova music festival, the family of Matan Mordechai Lior, who was killed in the attack, appeared in Beersheba Magistrate's Court to demand justice in the case of stolen sound equipment that belonged to him. The hearing on sentencing arguments for the convicted suspects took place on Wednesday, with the verdict scheduled for October 7. Matan Lior was posthumously awarded the Civil Courage Medal by President Isaac Herzog for his bravery and leadership during the attack, which saved many lives.

The indictment charged three men from Daliyat al-Karmel and Netanya, Ram Shaheen (34), Daniel Hasson (30), and San Lucian Tabel (35), with aggravated theft and fraud related to stealing Lior's sound system shortly after the massacre. Shaheen was convicted after a trial and found to have lied and manipulated proceedings, while Hasson and Tabel pleaded guilty in plea bargains. The prosecution requested maximum sentences of up to seven years for Shaheen, five for Hasson, and four for Tabel, along with compensation to Lior’s parents.

During the hearing, Matan’s mother, Sarah, expressed profound grief and outrage, condemning the defendants for stealing from her son’s business, Sound Fanatic, amid the chaos and horror of the massacre scene. She called them "forces of darkness" who shamelessly looted equipment that represented her son’s hard work and legacy. Matan’s father, Ofer, recalled how the family had to deal with the theft while searching for Matan’s body and demanded the harshest punishment, emphasizing the callousness of the crime committed amid national tragedy.

The defense attorney argued that Shaheen’s intentions were to help recover the equipment, not steal it, and urged the court not to conflate the theft with the massacre. However, Judge Amir Doron upheld the prior guilty verdicts, stating the court had already ruled on the defendants’ planning and intent. The court will issue the sentencing decision on October 7, marking the third anniversary of the massacre that claimed over 220 lives at the festival.

This case highlights ongoing legal and moral repercussions from the October 7 attack, as families seek justice not only for the massacre itself but also for subsequent crimes exploiting the tragedy.