Court ruling: Heavy sentence for perpetrator of rape in Gedera

The Central District Court in Lod sentenced Barakat Abu Assa on Wednesday to 21 years in prison after he was convicted of rape under aggravating circumstances, child abuse, and breaking into the home of a resident of Gedera. In addition to the heavy prison sentence, the defendant was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay 200,000 shekels in compensation to the victim.

According to the sentencing summary, Abu Assa worked at a construction site located opposite the victim's home. Late at night, he broke into her apartment on the second floor, attacked her, and threw her to the floor. He then bound her hands, feet, and eyes using adhesive tape he had prepared in advance, while her two-year-old son stood nearby, crying and screaming.

Abu Assa led the victim to a room and laid her on the floor while her toddler son stood by her side. The intruder threatened to kill her, took the child out of the room, and raped her. After committing the grave act, he returned the toddler and placed him next to his mother.

Amazing resourcefulness of a four-year-old child

Later, Abu Assa went to the kitchen, took a beer bottle, and drank from it. At that moment, the victim's four-year-old son woke up and showed exceptional resourcefulness by untying his bound mother with a knife. After the incident, Abu Assa fled the scene.

Judges: "A prolonged and terrifying incident"

The panel of judges, headed by retired President Ruth Lorch and including judges Ami Kobo and Dvora Attar, emphasized the exceptional severity of the acts and called them a "prolonged and terrifying incident."

"The violence used against the mother in front of her toddler son also constitutes child abuse and increases the severity of the offenses," the judges clarified in their verdict.