Last update - 00:00 05/02/2008
Father, son suspected of killing man they accused of stealing dog
By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent
A man and his son were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of killing a resident of a neighboring moshav whom they accused of stealing their dog. Both suspects deny the charge.
The body of Zvika Zilbershforen, a resident of the moshav of Ramot Meir, was found dead near his home Monday. Police are investigating allegations that a heated argument ensued between the father and son and the victim, during which the two accused Zilbershforen of kidnapping their pet dog.
Nonetheless, law enforcement officials cautioned that the investigation is in its early stages, and the circumstances in which the father and son allegedly brought about Zilbershforen's death remain unclear.
On Monday morning, a police telephone operator received an emergency phone call from a resident of Ramot Meir requesting immediate assistance. Shortly afterwards, the caller fell silent and did not answer the phone.
Police quickly rushed to the scene in order to follow up on the call and began searching for the caller. Not long after, Zilbershforen's body was found near the moshav's hothouses, not far from the caravan in which he lived.
Forensic investigators who were summoned to the scene did not notice any signs of violence on Zilbershforen's body. Yet, the results of an autopsy performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir revealed Tuesday that Zilbershforen apparently died from physical blows which caused internal bleeding and other injuries.
Police at the scene found evidence that Zilbershforen came into contact with the the father and son shortly before his death. Authorities arrested the two suspects Tuesday morning in the Holon area. They were brought Tuesday before the Rishon Lezion Magistrate, which ordered them to be remanded to custody until Thursday.
During questioning, the father and son denied the allegations. Their attorney painted a different picture of the events before the court, claiming that Zilbershforen fell ill during the argument and that it was the suspects who alerted the medical services to his condition, attempted to administer first aid, and provided their names and identification to people nearby. Nonetheless, the court felt there was enough validity to the charges against the suspects to warrant they be remanded to custody.