Police Record Suspects in Eldar Dayan Murder Case and Hear Unexpected Statements

Two suspects in the murder investigation of Eldar Dayan have begun providing their version of events after days of silence. According to their circle, the suspicion against them is currently based on assumptions, and they claim that Dayan was attacked earlier by another group unrelated to them. One suspect described in his interrogation that after a violent altercation involving a large group of youths in Hod Hasharon, the three fled together, with Dayan severely beaten by nine attackers, not five as initially thought. They said Dayan struggled to stand and sat down at a gas station where a friend bought him water.

The suspects were reportedly shocked and even cried upon learning that Dayan's body had been found. They had told police upon their arrest on July 26, eight days after the incident and before the body was discovered, that another group had assaulted Dayan and that they fled after their vehicle was damaged. Their main concern then was avoiding trouble after injuring a member of the other group during their escape, which explains their attempt to remove license plates and avoid police encounters.

Their defense argues that clothing items of Dayan found in the car do not indicate harm occurred inside the vehicle, as Dayan was known to sleep in his car and leave personal belongings there. The suspects pointed investigators toward the other group involved in the earlier confrontation, stating they do not know who killed Dayan but believe the second group should be investigated, especially if a chase occurred after the fight.

Police conducted an interrogation tactic by placing the two suspects together without officers present and recording their conversation. The suspects focused on what to say about the alleged hit-and-run but did not discuss the murder or concealment of Dayan's death. Their defense claims that if they were involved in the murder, the conversation would have reflected attempts to coordinate stories about it, which was not the case.

One suspect's lawyer advised him to stop remaining silent and provide a full account to avoid the permanent stigma of a murder accusation. The suspects also participated in searches for Dayan after his disappearance, including helping to bring an off-road vehicle for the search, behavior inconsistent with someone aware of having killed a friend. Meanwhile, police continue to examine all evidence, forensic results, and circumstances surrounding Dayan's death, with no decision yet on the suspects' involvement.