IDF chief's bodyguard admits attempted rape
Erez Efrati tells court he did try to rape young woman at Tel Aviv Port, but says he was not responsible for his actions due to alcohol poisoning
His lawyers claimed, however, that their client was not responsible for his actions as he had suffered alcohol poisoning which led to hallucinations.
Efrati's trial opened Sunday morning at the Tel Aviv District Court, where he admitted all charges: Attempted rape, attempted sodomy, assault inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault with intent to commit a crime, and threats.
His lawyers submitted opinions by different experts, claiming that he had drank fake alcoholic beverages which caused him to lose control.
Judge Chaled Kabub asked the defense attorneys, "He put himself in this situation, didn't he?"
Erez Efrati. Alcohol to blame? (Photo: Yaron Brener)
The prosecutor, Attorney Ruth Erez, told the court that it was the first time the defendant had admitted committing the sex offense against the complainant without using mental claims to explain his actions.
Efrati's lawyers also said there was no disagreement over the fact that his DNA was found on the complainant's body, but that it was unclear whether it was in fact semen.
The court decided three months ago to keep Efrati in custody until the completion of the legal proceedings against him.
'If you shout, I'll kill you'
According to the indictment, the complainant walked down Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv to the Reading parking lot near the port at 4:45 am, Saturday, November 28.
As she entered the parking lot, she noticed Efrati, who she did not know, following her. She hastened her stops until she reached her vehicle, and when she entered the car she closed to door in order to drive home.
Before she could start the vehicle, Efrati opened the door and dragged her out to the banks of the Yarkon River.
"The complainant screamed and begged him to leave her alone, but he kept dragging her, tightly grasping her shoulders, blocking her mouth with his hand and threatening that he would kill her if she screams," the indictment said.
Defendant's fiancée in court (Photo: Yaron Brener)
He then allegedly pinned her down between the bushes, beat and strangled her, and threatened to kill her once again. The defendant then turned the complainant over, facing the muddy ground, and tried to sodomize her.
The complainant resisted and cried for help. In response, Efrati beat her severely in her head until she felt faint.
Passersby who heard the screams approached the scene. Efrat told one of the passersby, who noticed he was covering the complainant's mouth, that she was his girlfriend. The complainant then shouted that she does not know Efrati, and he punched her in the face.
The indictment went on to detail the struggle between Efrati and the man who helped the complainant. The defendant pushed the man in the water, but the latter did not give up and seized Efrati once again to keep him away from the complainant.
The defendant then jumped into the river and tried to flee. He was ultimately caught when he hid behind the wooden pedestrian bridge crossing over the river.
As a result of Efrati's actions, the indictment read, the complainant sustains serious bruises, bleeding under the skin and grazes on her face and neck, as well as various bruises on her palms, waist and thighs. The man who came to her aid was also seriously bruised.
