Man accused of killing toddler daughter commits suicide

Assaf Goldring, who was indicted for killing his three-year-old daughter Noa in August, committed suicide Monday by jumping to his death from a wall at Hadarim Prison.

The Israeli Prison Service said that Goldring used a door to climb up the a 10-foot wall in the prison yard and proceeded to jump off it, head first.

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Goldring received initial care from a prison guard who spotted him jump from 10 yards away. Prison medical personnel were immediately called to the scene, as were Magen David Adom paramedics, who attempted to revive him, but to no avail.

Attorney Gadi Zilbershlag, who represented Goldring, said that "the act proves that Assaf was a conscientious person, who could no longer live with the horrible thing he had done. It's important to remember that as far as the evidence in the case went… he was under the influence of pills at the time of the event.

"As for the suicide, this was gross negligence by the people who were supposed to keep him safe. I assume the incident will be investigated and the proper conclusions drawn. The family is grieving and asks that they be allowed to do so with dignity."

Goldring is the 13th inmate to commit suicide since the beginning of the year, marking a steady increase in prison suicides in 2009. According to IPS data, nine inmates committed suicide in 2008 and seven in 2007.

The Israeli Prison Service has launched an inquest into the incident.