Rozmiarek and Atian
Palestinian sentenced to life in prison after assaulting, murdering tourist
Daria Magdalena Rozmiarek was visiting Israel when she was noticed by Kutaiba Atian; after sexually assaulting her, Atian chased her down and chocked her with her own scarf in fear she will report him to the police; the Nazareth District Court now convicts him on all charges, sentencing him to life in prison.
The Nazareth District Court on Wednesday convicted Kutaiba Atian, a 23-year-old Palestinian from Jericho, of murdering Daria Magdalena Rozmiarek, a 24-year-old tourist from Poland, in Nazareth in 2015—sentencing him to life in prison.
According to the conviction, while on her walk, Rozmiarek, a Polish citizen who was visiting Israel along with 40 other Christian pilgrims, ran into Atian at the construction site where he worked without a permit. Atian then tried to talk to her, but failed due to the language barrier.
Kutaiba Atian
During the exchange Atian tried to kiss Rozmiarek, but she refused and tried to run away.
For fear that she would report him, Atian attacked Rozmiarek; tackling her to the ground and strangling her to death with her own scarf. He then dragged her body into a wooded area nearby, hiding it among the trees, using a box to partially cover it.
Atian was indicted after DNA evidence was found on Rozmiarek's body. In his interrogation, he confessed to committing the murder, as he also did to a police informant in the detention center he was held in.
Daria Magdalena Rozmiarek
During his trial, Atian requested to retract his confession, accusing his interrogators of using "illegal means" to force him to confess. He was not allowed to do so, and his confession, together with the DNA evidence, led to his conviction.
Atian was convicted of murder, attempted indecent assault, obstruction of justice and illegal stay. In addition to his prison sentence, Atian was also fined NIS 250 thousand, to be paid to the victim's family.
Rozmiarek's family told the prosecution's representative that they intended to use the money to set up an aid fund for victims of crime.
