Verdict pending in Rose Pizem case

Three years after gruesome murder of four-year-old girl rattles Israel, court readies to rule whether mother, grandfather are guilty of murder or manslaughter

Naama Cohen-Friedman|Published: 05.19.11 , 00:13

Some three years after Israel was rattled by the brutal murder of four-year-old Rose Pizem, the Petah Tikva District Court is ready to render its verdict in the case.

Rose's disappearance in May 2008 led to a nationwide missing person's search – one of the largest the county had ever known. Unfortunately, several weeks into the search, her remains were found, stuffed into a suitcase which was dumped on the banks of Tel Aviv's Ha'Yarkon River.

For full coverage of the Rose Pizem case click here

Rose's mother Marie-Charlotte Renault, and grandfather, Ronny Ron, were indicted for her murder.

Thursday will see the Petah Tikva District Court rule on whether the two should be convicted of murder or the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The dumped suitcase (Photo: George Ginzburg)

Attorney Gil Friedman, representing Ron, said he hoped the court accepts his client's version of the events, adding "the police failed to prove he ever intended to harm the child... The coroner's report coincides with his statements, so I hope the court opts for manslaughter."

Ron, added his attorney, hopes to see Renault acquitted. "He thinks he is solely responsible," Friedman said.

Renault's attorney, Revital Swid, expressed a similar sentiment: "For the two and a half years of the trial, the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence to prove Marie was an accomplice to murder."

The Central District Prosecution claim Renault should be convicted of solicitation to murder – a felony which carries a sentence of life imprisonment.