Court sentences Sodmi twins for sexual molesting, killing

The brothers are convicted of the 2010 killing of seven year-old Leon Kalantarov and will face 22- and 19-year prison sentences.

By RON FRIEDMAN
police car 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
police car 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Twin brothers Naor and Adir Sodmi were convicted Sunday of the 2010 killing of sevenyear- old Leon Kalantarov and will face 22- and 19-year prison sentences, respectively.
The Central District Court in Petah Tikva convicted the brothers after they signed a plea bargain with the State Attorney’s Office, confessing to having sexually molested and then killed Kalantarov, in exchange for the state dropping murder charges.
Kalantarov’s body was found wrapped in plastic bags under a bed in the home of the Sodmi twins in Moshav Bnei Ayish in January 2010.
The indictment stated that the accused had sexually molested Kalantarov and afterwards chocked him by placing their hands over his mouth and nostrils.
The Sodmi twins were also convicted of committing indecent acts against other minors. The charge sheet detailed how the twins would entice minors to their home, where they were shown pornographic movies and sexually molested.
The victim’s father Arthur Kalantarov, who attended the hearing, said it was better for the men to die in prison than return to society.
He also said he could not bear the thought that the men would eventually be released, with time taken off the sentence for good behavior.
The prosecutor said that though the state had consulted with the family prior to signing the agreement, the family’s opposition to a deal was rejected because of the difficulty in substantiating all of the charges against the brothers.
During the hearing the brothers confessed and apologized for their actions.