Man Charged with Murder After Stabbing Disabled Rabbi Amos Guetta in Netanya

Benjamin Yosef Chaim Friedrich has been indicted by the Central District Prosecutor's Office for the intentional murder of Rabbi Amos Guetta, head of a yeshiva in Netanya, alongside charges of aggravated assault and illegal possession of a knife. According to the indictment filed at the Lod District Court, Rabbi Guetta was in a severely debilitated state, bedridden and connected to medical equipment, legally defined as helpless.

The indictment alleges that Friedrich planned the attack in advance. He took a 21-centimeter kitchen knife from the yeshiva, concealed it in his pants, and arrived at Rabbi Guetta's home at 5:39 a.m. Friedrich requested permission from the caregiver, Yaakov, to pray by the rabbi's bedside. After being allowed in, he stood at the foot of the bed, murmured a brief prayer, then stabbed Rabbi Guetta in the chest and abdomen. When Yaakov tried to intervene, a struggle ensued during which Yaakov was injured. Friedrich continued stabbing the rabbi three more times until the knife fell from his hand.

Friedrich then fled, leaving Rabbi Guetta critically wounded. As Yaakov pursued him, Friedrich turned threateningly before escaping. The prosecution emphasizes the premeditated nature of the murder and the victim's helpless condition, justifying the aggravated charges. The case is now before the Lod District Court for trial.