Psychiatric report: Daniel Moaz fit to stand trial

According to Jerusalem District Psychiatric Committee, man suspected of murdering parents is responsible for his actions.

By MELANIE LIDMAN
Daniel Maoz takes witness stand 370 (photo credit: MELANIE LIDMAN)
Daniel Maoz takes witness stand 370
(photo credit: MELANIE LIDMAN)
Daniel Maoz, the 28-year-old lawyer accused of murdering his parents last August, is mentally fit to stand trial, according to a report from the Jerusalem District Psychiatric Committee.
On Tuesday, Chief Judge Tzvi Segal will hear the recommendations from the committee at the Jerusalem District Court in one of the final days of the Maoz trial.
A copy of the report obtained by Channel 10 said that Maoz was fit to stand trial and is responsible for his actions. This means that if Maoz is found guilty of the murders he cannot plead insanity.
Daniel Maoz’s twin brother, Nir Maoz, discovered the bodies of their parents, Noah and Nurit Maoz, stabbed to death in their home in Ramot on August 11, 2011. Daniel Maoz was arrested approximately a month later, though in a surprise twist, he accused Nir of murdering their parents, as the two share identical DNA that was found at the scene of the murders.
State attorney Yuval Kaplinsky has highlighted Maoz’s gambling addiction, his massive gambling debts, his suspicious Google searches for “inheritance after murder,” and his rapidly changing versions of the events leading up to his parents’ murder. In the closing arguments, Kaplinsky called Maoz’s behavior “almost schizophrenic.”
Segal berated Kaplinsky for introducing questions over Maoz’s mental health so late in the trial, but ordered Maoz to undergo psychiatric testing in June. Maoz did not oppose the testing.
The results of the testing will be discussed in greater detail on Tuesday. The state attorney also requested that an additional witness testify on Tuesday at the Jerusalem District Court. The additional witness was mentioned in an anonymous letter sent July 10 to Kaplinsky, the Jerusalem District Court and Maoz’s defense lawyer David Barhoom.
In the letter, obtained by the media, the anonymous tipster writes that he heard screaming and then saw Nir Maoz run out of his parents’ home at 11 p.m.
“There is no way this could be wrong! It was definitely Nir Maoz,” the tipster wrote.
Maoz was re-arrested in his cell, losing his prison privileges as a result, after police suspected he wrote the letter himself.
Police also arrested 38-year-old Jerusalem resident Roni Ben-Arnon, Maoz’s former cellmate, whom they suspect printed and mailed the letter after he was released.
Ben-Arnon was serving time for traffic infractions. During the investigation, Ben- Arnon admitted he helped send the letter.
He told police Maoz had promised that, once he was released, he would reward Ben-Arnon financially.