Last update - 00:00 17/02/2008
Police suspect Shoafat teen raped, murdered his 6-year-old cousin
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent
The Jerusalem police have arrested a suspect in the brutal rape and murder of 6-year-old Bureij Taha on January 18. The police suspect the victim's 17-year-old cousin of the crime.
A gag order on the details of the case was lifted Sunday and the police announced the arrest.
The girl's parents found her body late at night and took her to Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, where an investigation into the incident was launched. The parents did not know the circumstances of the murder or the identity of the attacker.
They told investigators that they found her lifeless body in the family's home in the Shoafat refugee camp near Jerusalem.
The doctors' examination showed that the girl had been raped and strangled.
An investigation team was immediately established in Jerusalem police minorities department. During the course of the investigation, DNA samples were collected from the girl's family as well as dozens of residents of the refugee camp.
The police's findings incriminated the victim's cousin, and he was arrested several weeks ago. The suspect denied being involved in the incident and refused to cooperate with the investigators.
On Sunday, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended the suspect's remand. Police sources reported that they believe an indictment will be filed against the teen as early as Monday.
A comprehensive gag order was issued encompassing all details pertaining to the case immediately as the investigation began. The order was lifted Sunday, nearly one month after the murder.
Related articles:
For an update,