Tair Rada
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School gardener arrested as suspect in teenage girl's murder
Akko's magistrate court extends by five days the arrest of 40 year old suspect in the murder of 13 year old Tair Rada from Katzrin Wednesday
Police detained the gardener of the Nofei Golan high school in Katzrin on Friday, under suspicion that he murdered 13 year old student Tair Rada. Police said that information from a number of witnesses raised their suspicions regarding the man, who was then detained for questioning.
Concurrently, a groups of parents is supposed to meet at Nofei Golan on Saturday night, in protest of the management's behavior regarding ongoing violence in the school.
"The educational establishment preferred to deal with the problem with therapists and psychology, instead of suspension," parents said. It is believed they may ask for a day off for students this upcoming Sunday.
Nonetheless, Ynet was informed that the group represents only a small number of parents. Chairman of the parents association Moshe Danino said that "this harsh criticism does not represent the opinion of all of the parents. I will go to the meeting to try to calm things down."
Wednesday evening, Rada's body was found in the bathroom of the Nofei Golan high school. Her father, who arrived at the scene, said "when she didn't come home in the afternoon, her mother worried and started to cry."
"At first I tried to calm her and said that there was nothing to worry about, that she probably went to a friends' house. Afterwards, searches began around the school," he recounted.
"We ran into a janitor who told us that everything was locked and that no one was there. Afterwards, they called and said that they had found the girl, in a faint. Only later we found out what had happened."
Thursday, police arrested Rafael Cohen, 56, on suspicion of involvement in the murder. The man was brought to court the same day and remanded for three days.
Cohen maintains his innocence, saying he moved to the Golan only a short while ago, to rehabilitate himself. "I'm being framed…I have nothing to do with this and the police know it, too," he said.
Cohen's lawyer added: "There is no solid or objective evidence to tie him to the crime. Even the judge said that the suspicion is unsubstantiated and only gave three days of remand because the investigation is in its early stages."
