T.A. court orders release of suspects in murder of prominent physician

The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court on Thursday released the four suspects in the murder of Tel Aviv physician David Niv, though they are to remain under house arrest.

The four - Sami Mughrabi, Imad Mughrabi, Meni Ben-David and Salim al-Baz - were brought for a fourth remand hearing on Thursday morning following criticism by the court of the investigation into Niv's shooting death in February 2007.

"The evidence at hand, to which nothing has been added in recent days, does not justify lengthening the remand of the suspects," wrote Judge Rachel Greenberg, who ordered the suspects' release.

On Sunday, police asked Greenberg to remand the four suspects for 15 days. However, on Monday she ordered a four-day remand only, citing insufficient progress on collecting evidence. Imad Mughrabi's attorney, Giora Zilberstein, told Haaretz "to save face, the police should let them go this morning rather than let the court do it."

After a police representative informed the court that no progress has been made in the investigation, Greenberg ordered the release.

Following Thursday's hearing, the suspects' lawyers - Zilberstein, Moshe Sharman, David Yiftah, and Eli Cohen - praised the judge's decision as courageous and reiterated the claim that their clients have no tie whatsoever to the murder.

The police said on Thursday that they intend to appeal Greenberg's ruling. The suspects will remain in jail until the appeal is heard.