Israeli Court Sentences Murderer of Rasha Sityawi to Life in Prison

The District Court in Nof HaGalil-Nazareth has sentenced 37-year-old Nidal Daghar to life imprisonment plus an additional four years in prison—two years to be served consecutively and two concurrently—following his conviction for the aggravated murder of Rasha Sityawi, a 35-year-old resident of Maghar and mother of three.

In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered the defendant to pay maximum statutory compensation of 258,000 shekels, to be distributed to the victim's minor children and her siblings.

The shocking murder took place on November 25, 2021. Daghar arrived at the home of Sityawi, a beauty salon owner, where her 10.5-year-old daughter was also present. Daghar climbed the stairs, entered the apartment wearing a helmet, and drew a handgun. In a desperate bid to save her life, Sityawi attempted to flee and hide behind her young daughter's back. However, Daghar did not hesitate: he approached the two, aimed the weapon, and shot Sityawi in the head from a distance of less than two meters. After she collapsed onto the carpet bleeding profusely, Daghar approached her and fired two additional shots from a distance of less than a meter.

Following the act, Daghar fled the scene, hid the scooter in an open area on the outskirts of Maghar, and disposed of the weapon, helmet, and coat. A week later, when he returned to retrieve the scooter, police blocked his route and arrested him following a foot chase.

Premeditation and Escape Plan

According to the detailed facts described in the sentencing verdict, Daghar planned the murder in cold blood:

1. He equipped himself in advance with a scooter and removed its license plate to prevent identification.

2. He purchased a helmet that covered his face and armed himself with a loaded 9mm handgun.

3. He left his mobile phone behind in a guest suite in Moshav Kalanit where he had been staying.

The central legal issue decided by the court concerned whether a separate, consecutive sentence should be imposed for the offense of child abuse. The defense attorney, Michael Carmel, argued against separate punishment, asserting that the abuse act was carried out within the framework of the same incident and was "absorbed" into the murder conviction under the heading of "special cruelty," given that the daughter's presence served as an aggravating circumstance. Conversely, prosecutor Marina Rosenfeld insisted that the deep and ongoing psychological damage inflicted on the minor, who was forced to witness her mother's murder and the subsequent execution-style shots, justified separate consecutive sentencing reflecting the gravity of the deed.

Court Ruling on Child Abuse

The panel of judges—President Esther Hellman (presiding), Yifat Shitrit, and Usila Abu-Asad—adopted the prosecution's position, ruling decisively that this constituted a separate act justifying cumulative punishment:

«The defendant noticed the minor upon entering the apartment, when she was standing very close to the deceased. He also noticed that the deceased was hiding behind the minor's back while crying out for help. All of these did not deter him from continuing his plan... The child abuse offense of which the defendant was convicted is directed at harming protected values that are distinct and separate from the infringement upon the sanctity of life through the murder of the mother.»

The judges elaborated on the repercussions of the trauma on the child's psyche:

«Being a witness to murder constitutes an extreme traumatic experience that pulls the rug out from under any person, and when it concerns a young child, exposure to such a harrowing spectacle—witnessing the murder of the most significant and close figure in her life—carries devastating and incalculable consequences for her soul... This destructive harm to the minor's life must find expression in tangible additional punishment that conveys abhorrence for the defendant's actions and deters others from committing similar acts.»