Israeli Police Extend Detention of Eldar Dayan Murder Suspects Amid Ongoing Investigation

On August 2, 2023, Omri Peretz and Maxim Barberman, two friends of Eldar Dayan suspected of his murder, appeared for the sixth time before the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court. After 24 days in custody, the investigation remains largely based on witness accounts, timelines, and video evidence from the hours before Dayan's disappearance. However, no conclusive forensic evidence or final medical examiner's report has yet linked the suspects directly to the murder. The court extended their detention until August 24, despite police requests to hold them until August 25 to complete further investigative actions.

A new development involves Peretz's mobile phone. Initially, he claimed not to possess a phone but later voluntarily handed it over to police in Dimona. Authorities are now examining whether any data was deleted before the device was seized, though no confirmation of data deletion has been made. Dayan's own phone remains missing. Defense attorney Chen Baruch stated Peretz cooperated fully, providing his version and the phone, asserting his innocence.

Central to the case is the exact moment the three friends separated. The suspects claim they lost contact with Dayan after entering an underground structure, but police surveillance footage suggests they parted ways tens of meters earlier, with inconsistencies in suspect statements. Barberman had previously identified the separation location to family members, which coincides with where Dayan's body was found, a point the defense argues supports their version.

The final autopsy report is still pending, leaving the cause and time of death uncertain. Police emphasize the case is not solely based on forensic evidence but also on contradictions in suspects' accounts and prior events, including an alleged threat by Barberman against Dayan during a confrontation. Video footage from a gas station shows the three together after this incident, contradicting claims that the suspects fled due to police pursuit related to a separate event.

The investigation has expanded to include five other youths involved in the earlier altercation with Dayan, who were recently re-arrested. While not currently suspects in the murder, police are examining their potential involvement in preceding violence. The defense argues this new line of inquiry necessitates reassessing the suspicion level against Peretz and Barberman.

Questions remain about why Dayan's body was not found during initial searches despite extensive efforts. Police explained the body's condition upon discovery might explain this. No DNA evidence linking the suspects directly to the murder has been found, though DNA was recovered from helmets found nearby. Judge Ronen Peleg ruled that reasonable suspicion remains based on multiple factors, including contradictions in suspects' testimonies, and allowed the investigation to continue with the suspects in custody. The case remains unresolved pending the final forensic report and additional investigative steps.