Yossi Benayoun
צילום: עוז מועלם
Yossi Benayoun's father suspected of assaulting wife
Father of Liverpool midfielder arrested for allegedly slapping his wife, threatening to kill her at their Dimona home. Attorney: Allegations based on rumors
David Yehuda Benayoun, the father of Liverpool FC midfielder Yossi Benayoun, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting and threatening his wife.
The wife filed a complaint with the Dimona police department, claiming that her husband had behaved obsessively and abused her mentally. She also said he shoved and even slapped her.
During his interrogation, David Benayoun, 57, denied the allegations and claimed that his wife had attacked him.
According to an indictment filed with the Beersheba Magistrates' Court, on Friday evening David Benayoun attacked his wife at their Dimona home. He allegedly slapped her a number of times, struck her shoulders and threatened to kill her.
Benayoun was released to house arrest at his daughter's home in Kibbutz Be'eri.
David Benayoun's attorney, Natali Forian, said he is a "normal person in every way with no criminal past. He is denying the allegations against him, which are based on rumors. The relationship between my client and his wife are fine. The fact that he was released to house arrest after being arrested in the morning speaks for itself. The truth will come out in court."
Some fours years ago, David Benayoun was charged with assaulting a fan of Maccabi Haifa, his son's former team. During the incident, which took place in 2000, David Benayoun slapped a fan who cursed his son Yossi. The father was given a six-month suspended sentence.
