Israeli Court Sentences Man to 21 Years for Raping Woman in Front of Toddler Son

The Central District Court in Lod sentenced Barkat Abu Asa, a 23-year-old resident of Tel Sheva, to 21 years in prison for breaking into a woman’s apartment in Gedera and raping her in front of her two-year-old son. The attack occurred in early 2023, and in April, Abu Asa was convicted of aggravated rape, child abuse, and burglary. The judges also imposed a suspended sentence and ordered him to pay 200,000 shekels in compensation.

Abu Asa worked at a construction site opposite the victim’s home. One late night, he forcibly entered her second-floor apartment, tied her hands, feet, and eyes with adhesive tape, and assaulted her while her toddler son cried nearby. He threatened to kill her, removed the child from the room, and raped her as she wept. Afterward, he returned the child to her and drank beer in the kitchen. The victim’s four-year-old son woke up and helped her free herself with a knife, prompting Abu Asa to flee.

The court highlighted the extreme severity of the crime, emphasizing the prolonged and traumatic nature of the assault, the abuse inflicted in the presence of the victim’s young children, and the terror caused by the nighttime home invasion. The judges acknowledged the victim’s ongoing emotional and functional struggles and praised her courage in testifying. Despite Abu Asa’s denial, the court relied on substantial evidence, including DNA from semen samples, cellphone location data, and vehicle footage, to convict him.

This case underscores the court’s firm stance on violent sexual offenses, particularly those involving vulnerable victims and children, and its commitment to delivering justice and supporting survivors’ recovery.