Fled to the mountains and returned when money ran out: the escape of Aviad Sasson

New details from the Binyahu Razi murder case shed light on the version of one of the main defendants, 17-year-old Aviad Sasson, who is represented by attorneys Michael Yamin and Moshe Ohay. According to sources close to his defense and sources familiar with the investigation details, Sasson admits that he stabbed during the confrontation in the apartment, but claims that he did not arrive at the scene with the intent to murder and that the event deteriorated after he claimed Razi pulled a knife and tried to attack the group.

According to his version, the group arrived at the scene following Shilat Huta's desire to take belongings she had left in the apartment. Sources familiar with the details say that the young people were together when they were exposed to what had happened earlier, saw the girls and the marks on them, and after Huta said she had belongings left at the place, they decided to accompany her. According to one of the descriptions provided in the investigation, she was told: "We will come with you, don't go there alone."

However, the young people did not arrive empty-handed. According to investigation materials, some of them equipped themselves with clubs, knives, and hammers. Sources close to Sasson's defense claim that the group members feared a violent confrontation and that they believed Razi might attack them. On the other hand, the very act of equipping themselves with weapons is expected to be at the center of the dispute over whether this was an event that developed spontaneously or a move for which the defendants arrived prepared in advance for a confrontation.

According to sources familiar with the details, seven of those involved arrived at the scene in a vehicle, with Huta in the trunk. After arriving at the scene, they met Binyahu Razi and his friend Matanya outside the building, and from there went up with them to the apartment. According to Sasson's version, the purpose of going up was to allow Huta to take her belongings. In her investigation, as emerges from the material, Huta said that "I had things there that I wanted to take."

The events inside the apartment are at the heart of the dispute. According to Sasson's version, it was Razi who pulled a knife first and tried to attack the group members. According to sources familiar with the details, Sasson claimed that at this stage one of the young people hit Razi, "and then the mess started." On the other hand, as part of the investigation, recordings taken from a video call that took place during the event were also examined.

According to sources familiar with the investigation details, Shilat was in a video call from the apartment with Linor, Aviad's mother, and with Agam, who remained outside the apartment. From the call, images and partial recordings remained that might help clarify the question of who attacked first and what happened in the minutes preceding the fatal stabbing. However, as far as is known, this is not a continuous and full recording of the entire event.

Sasson himself does not deny that he stabbed during the confrontation. According to sources close to him, in his investigation he admitted to this and even expressed regret over the result. According to them, he said that "he did not intend for it to reach this situation," that "he didn't want it at all," and that as far as he was concerned "they just came to take Shilat's things." He also claimed that the group members "did not intend to reach this place."

From the apartment to the gas station – and from there to Tiberias

After the event, those involved fled the apartment. According to sources familiar with the details, Aviad's mother, who was driving the vehicle, picked up the group members again and they continued to the area of a gas station. Later they split up, with each of them continuing in a different direction. Sasson later arrived in the Tiberias area. According to his version, he stayed in the area for a few days, wandered in the mountains, and avoided making contact with his family members. Sources close to him say that he was under heavy pressure following the event. According to his version, at the stage when he fled, he did not know at all that Razi had died and even claimed at first that he did not know they were looking for him.

He carried with him a small amount of money that allowed him to manage for a few days. According to sources close to him, it was money he had from work as well as funds he received from his mother and grandmother. After a few days, when the money ran out, he returned. Throughout this period, it is claimed, he did not make contact with any of his family members. At this stage, it is still unclear what became of his mobile phone or the knife he, according to his version, used during the confrontation. Sources close to his defense say that they also do not have a clear answer at this stage regarding the location of the items.

At the same time, during the period he was missing, his sister was also arrested. At this stage, it is unclear if this influenced his decision to return. In the investigation, the question also arose of an alleged call made to him from prison by his stepbrother, but according to sources close to him, he is not providing details on the subject.

"A child who got into a situation"

Sasson did not know the lawyers representing him beforehand. According to sources close to the family, at the beginning of the way he was frightened and confused and even had difficulty believing that Razi had died. He initially feared that it was an investigative trick, because he did not know the people who came to meet him. In his environment, they describe him as "a child who got into a situation" and claim that "he did not intend to reach this place" and that he certainly did not intend the fatal result.

On the other hand, the case materials include a series of heavy data — the equipping with knives and other attack tools, the joint arrival at the scene, the ascent to the apartment, the stabbing, and the subsequent escape — which are expected to be at the center of the legal proceeding. According to sources familiar with the details, Sasson had no prior acquaintance with Agam or Shilat. The connection between the parties was created, as far as is known, through the partner of one of the young women's sisters, who was known to Sasson's mother. In this point as well, some of the details are still not fully clear.

Today, Sasson is held in Ofek prison, after having previously stayed at the Shikma detention center in Ashkelon. According to sources close to him, he stays in a cell with detainees he does not know, and at this stage deals with the arrest far from his familiar environment. Being a minor, the question of his criminal responsibility and the punishment that will be imposed on him if he is convicted is expected to be complex. At the center of the trial, among other things, is expected to be the question of what was the group's intention when it went out to the scene while equipped with weapons, and who was it that started the violence inside the apartment.