The head of the Central Police District's investigation into a Petah Tikva murder suspected to involve a famous model decided to uphold an ongoing gag order on Monday, despite essential details regarding the investigation already having leaked, claiming that lifting the order may damage the investigation.
On Tuesday, the model and one other suspect will be brought to the Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court for a hearing where investigators are scheduled to request an extension of their detention for the third time.
On Thursday, two additional suspects will be brought to court. The police will also request an extension of their detention in their case. It is possible that the investigating unit will request a reduction in the gag order at the hearing.
In the meantime, legal representatives for the suspects will be presenting their clients’ testimonies. The suspects claimed that the incident, which took place in a second-floor apartment on Salant Street, occurred after the model invited four young men to her home, including the victim, a married father of two, Shalom Nissim, as well as three other people involved.
According to Maariv, it is alleged that the individuals involved were using drugs. At a certain point, an argument allegedly broke out between the involved, including the model and Nissim. Shortly afterwards, his body was found at the entrance to the residential building, after being thrown to the ground while he was unconscious.
The Magen David Adom paramedic team that responded to the scene and the police originally determined Nissim's death to be a suicide.
However, after the National Institute for Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir issued a report of its findings from the victim’s autopsy, the picture changed. Forensic laboratory investigators returned to the scene of the incident and changed the status of the investigation from a suicide to a murder.
The police believe that during the gathering at the model’s residence, an argument broke out between the victim and individuals present who were not acquainted with the victim, during which the victim was stabbed and then pushed off the second-floor balcony. A contrary theory claims that the victim was injured in a fight and then inexplicably jumped from the second floor to his death.
The police quickly imposed a gag order on the involved individuals and began collecting evidence, conducting an investigation in which the model and three others were arrested.
One suspect quickly claimed he had nothing to do with the incident and did not know what was happening in the apartment. The suspect’s lawyer claimed that his client arrived at the apartment late at night, promptly entered an inner room, fell asleep, and was therefore not involved in the suspicious incident.
Due to the gag order, many details of the investigation remain unknown, but will be revealed in the coming days as the investigation unfolds.
Details released after victim's father requested to attend funeral
What is known by the public was revealed following a petition submitted by Asher Nissim, the father of the deceased.
Asher Nissim was sentenced to 32 years in prison after being convicted of murdering his wife, Vicky, in 2003. The victim’s father filed the petition through his attorney in order to allow him to attend his son's funeral.
As part of the hearing in the petition’s proceedings, Israel Prison Service representatives revealed a classified police document clarifying the details of the father’s request. That document noted that Asher Nissim’s son was murdered in an incident that is under investigation, which resulted in the details being released to the public.