Four minors and two young women were indicted on Friday for the murder of 19-year-old Benayahu Razi, who was stabbed to death in a Jerusalem Airbnb last month after a dispute involving his former partner escalated into an armed confrontation.
Seven people were indicted in total, but prosecutors accuse them of different roles in the killing.
Agam Tzarfati, 19, of Jerusalem, Shilat Huta, 20, of Beersheba, and four minors aged approximately 15 to 17 were charged with murder and aggravated assault. Prosecutors allege that the six decided together to attack Razi and his friend, while the four minors carried out the physical assault that killed him.
The seventh defendant, Linor Sasson, 46, of Jerusalem, was charged with assisting after the fact and obstruction of justice for allegedly helping members of the group flee after the attack.
According to the indictments, Tzarfati remained in a car outside the apartment during the attack. Huta went upstairs with the four minors and was present as the confrontation developed, including making a video call to Tzarfati while it was taking place.
Prosecutors nevertheless charge both women with Razi’s murder, alleging that they had joined the four minors in deciding beforehand to attack him and his friend.
The four minors were also charged with unlawful possession of knives and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors have asked the Jerusalem District Court to keep all seven defendants in custody until the end of proceedings against them.
According to the indictments, Tzarfati and Razi had been in a relationship.
Women spent weekend with Razi before his death
On July 9, Tzarfati and Huta rented an Airbnb apartment on Shirizli Street in Jerusalem for three days and invited Razi and his friend to spend the weekend there with them.
A dispute broke out between the four the following day. Prosecutors said they do not know precisely what happened during that altercation.
The next afternoon, Tzarfati and Huta left the apartment while Razi and his friend were sleeping.
They later told Huta’s sister and others that Razi had been violent toward them and that they were afraid to return to the apartment.
The two women went to Sasson’s home in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood. The four minors later arrived there and heard Tzarfati and Huta’s account of what had happened.
It was at Sasson’s home, prosecutors allege, that Tzarfati, Huta and the four minors decided together to attack Razi and his friend, saying that they intended to “finish him.”
The four minors then allegedly armed themselves with two knives, a folding metal baton, a spike, razor blades and a metal meat tenderizer.
Later that afternoon, Huta exchanged messages with Razi’s friend and warned that he and Razi should leave the apartment. Tzarfati also sent Razi threatening messages as the group headed back toward the area, according to the indictment.
At around 6:30 p.m., Sasson allegedly drove Tzarfati, Huta and the four minors toward the apartment. During the drive, prosecutors said, the minors continued talking about their intention to “finish” Razi. The indictment states that Sasson warned them not to do anything.
When they arrived, Tzarfati and Sasson remained in the car while Huta and the four minors walked toward the apartment.
They found Razi and his friend sitting in a car nearby. One of the minors, who knew Razi, approached and asked to speak with him. The group then convinced the two men to go back up to the apartment with them, saying they wanted to talk.
Inside, the four minors confronted Razi over the claim that he had hit Tzarfati. According to the indictment, Razi denied hitting her.
Huta, standing at the entrance to the room, then made a video call to Tzarfati, allowing Tzarfati and Sasson to see what was happening inside.
After a brief exchange, one of the minors allegedly pulled out the metal baton and struck Razi in the face and shoulder.
The four minors then drew the weapons they had brought and attacked him, prosecutors alleged.
Prosecutors allege that two of the minors then stabbed Razi in the arm and chest, although they have not determined which of the three carried out the stabbings.
Razi’s friend tried to reach him and was attacked as well. Prosecutors allege that he was kicked, struck in the arm with the metal meat tenderizer, and stabbed in the hand.
The stab wound to Razi’s lower left chest penetrated his chest cavity and struck his heart, causing severe blood loss that led to his death.
Group flees after attack
The group fled immediately after the attack.
According to the indictment, one of the minors wiped two knives as they escaped, while another discarded a knife he had taken from the apartment.
Sasson later picked up the four minors in her car. Prosecutors allege that once inside, they said Razi was dead and discussed leaving Jerusalem.
One of the minors later separated from the others and remained in hiding for more than two weeks before police arrested him.
Police had taken the unusual step of publicly releasing the 17-year-old suspect’s name and photograph while he was still at large in an effort to locate him. He was arrested on July 28 following a two-week manhunt.
The killing followed a troubled history between Razi and Tzarfati. Ynet reported that Razi filed a police complaint in September 2025 alleging that Tzarfati was harassing him and threatening his life, and that several men had come to his home and threatened to kill him.
Several other reports note that complaints had been made by both sides during their relationship. Those earlier allegations are separate from what prosecutors say occurred during the weekend of Razi’s death.
In its request to keep all seven defendants in custody, the prosecution said the evidence includes security-camera footage documenting parts of the incident and the group’s escape, statements by Tzarfati and Huta about the minors arming themselves ahead of the attack, partial admissions by the minors, the surviving friend’s account, phone evidence and DNA findings.
Attorneys say they did not receive investigation material at time of indictment
Attorneys Idan Gamlielli and Ofer Ehrlich of the Public Defender’s Office, who represent one of the minors, said they had not yet received the investigation material when the indictment was filed.
“Even from an initial review of the indictment, a picture emerges of an unplanned and unfolding event that ended tragically,” they said.
The minor denies directly causing Razi’s death, they added, saying they would present their arguments in court after receiving and reviewing the evidence.