Last update - 00:00 04/01/2007
Judge: Reasonable suspicion that Zadorov killed Katzrin teen
By Eli Ashkenazi and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents
The Acre Magistrate's Court on Thursday extended the remand of Roman Zadorov, the prime suspect in the murder of Tair Rada, for the fourth time.
Judge Moshe Alter who presided over the remand extension said that "there is no doubt that there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the suspect is guilty of murder, and there is no doubt that the investigation has not yet been completed and that parts of the inquiry have not yet been carried out."
Rada, 13, was found dead last month in the bathroom of the Nofei Golan High School in the northern town of Katzrin.
Zadorov was arrested 25 days ago, so his remand can only be extended by five more days, unless the attorney general gives permission for Zadorov to be held in custody for more than 30 days.
Nevertheless, the court rejected the defense's request to release Zadorov to house arrest.
Zadorov's remand was extended despite the fact that the prosecutor has not yet declared the intent to indict, a step leading up to an actual indictment.
When Judge Jamil Nasser extended Zadorov's remand last Friday, he said that the police would have to present new substantial incriminating evidence if the remand was to be extended an additional time.
Zadorov's attorney David Spiegel said in response "I am not surprised that the remand was extended, in light of the sensitivity of the matter."
According to Spiegel, "Zadorov is in good spirits, and is convinced his innocence will eventually come to light. He is patient."
During the hearing, Zadorov yelled out to his wife Olga "they won't be able to dump this on me."
Judge limits gag order on murder case
Acre Magistrate's Court Judge Rahamim Tzemach decided on Wednesday to limit the gag order that had been placed on the murder case. His decision came in response to a request by media outlets, including Haaretz, to lift the gag.
The court ruled that the gag order, which was imposed on Tuesday, could not be applied to information that has already been released or to public court proceedings, including Thursday's remand hearing. However, it will apply to "details of the investigation, testimony, the identity of suspects and any other evidence that the police have, whether they had it before the order was imposed or acquire it after the order is imposed, as long as it has not been publicized in the past." The order will be valid until January 11.
Police Chief Inspector Yoram Azoulay told the court on Thursday that witnesses are likely to be influenced by the continuing publicity. He said that lifting the first gag order, after which the police announced that Zadorov was the prime suspect, had been a mistake.
"I can't recall such a publicized case," said Azoulay. "The press has already decided that Zadorov is innocent and has provided the direction of inquiry."
Azoulay also said that private investigators hired by the family were causing damage. "Small children are scared to go to school because of all the private investigators the family hired," he said. "Children are scared to provide testimony so they won't be suspects in the murder."
But Tamar Glick, an attorney representing Haaretz, said that the police are to blame for the leaks in the case.
"It wasn't the media that held a press conference or leaked testimony in the case," she said. "If the police representative thinks that a private investigator is liable to obstruct investigative proceedings, he doesn't need to impose an order on all the media outlets."
Zadorov's attorney and Rada's family were also critical of the police position on the gag order.
"This is the police of Chelm," said Zadorov's attorney, David Spigel. "After a month, they request a gag order. After they leak [the details of the case], they want to erase everything from our consciousness ... after they told the whole world that the case is closed."
Rada's father, Shmuel Rada, made a similar comment, saying: "Unfortunately, the police themselves leak, and then they ask for a gag order." He repeated his request that police update the family about the investigation and inform them as to whether they have convincing evidence against Zadorov.
"We live in uncertainty and doubt," he said. "We can't sit clasping our hands. After all, we lost our daughter. No one can feel our pain. What is simpler than coming and involving us? We'll sign any confidentiality document required of us."
On Friday, the Rada family will mark the 30th day since Tair's death by attending an unveiling ceremony at her grave.