Police: Jaffa community leader's murder case solved

Investigators say dispute surrounding expensive Jaffa seaside property was motive for murder of Gabriel Cadis during Christmas parade. Prosecution to file an indictment against three suspects

Eli Senyor|Published: 01.31.12 , 13:57

Police on Tuesday announced that they solved the murder of Gabriel Cadis, chairman of the Jaffa Orthodox Church Association, who was stabbed to death during the annual Christmas parade by a man in a Santa Claus custume.

Investigators suspect that the former chairman of the association, Talal abu Mana, 55, ordered the assassination and assisted the killer and his accomplice after the act.

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In addition to abu Mana, police arrested Fuad abu Mana, 25, and Toufic Dalu, 24 on suspicion of carrying out the hit. The three were arrested several hours after the murder and will be indicted later this week.

According to suspicions, the motive for the murder was a dispute surrounding an expensive seaside property, worth up to NIS 10 million (about $2.7 million).

מאות ליוו אוו בדרכו האחרונה (צילום: חסן שעלאן)

Hundreds attend Cadis' funeral (Photo:Hassan Shaalan)

In a legal proceeding that took place several days before the murder, Cadis claimed that the property belonged to the association and presented evidence to that effect. Abu Mana, on the other hand, claimed that the property belonged to his family.

Police suspect that the alleged killers planned to murder Cadis several hours prior to the procession, but were unable to carry out their plot. Instead, they followed him around and murdered him shortly after the procession.

Investigators managed to assemble a picture of Cadis' last hours using security cameras and pictures taken by people who attended the parade. Though they were unable to obtain the knife or DNA, police said the evidence they had was sufficient in order to file an indictment.

The three suspects are denying the allegations, claiming they were in the Talal family home during the murder.