Legal precedent: Murder charge filed for the first time to prevent a witness from testifying

The indictment filed on Thursday in the double murder case in Buq'ata creates a legal precedent: for the first time, the prosecution has charged defendants with the murder of a person who was a witness in a criminal proceeding and was expected to testify, with the specific intent of preventing or obstructing a judicial process.

This charge is intended to highlight the unique severity of murdering a witness—beyond the loss of life, it represents a direct attempt to undermine the law enforcement system's ability to ascertain the truth and conduct criminal proceedings.

The indictment was filed in the District Court in Nof HaGalil-Nazareth by attorneys Yael Katz, Lusana Saig, and Tom Yairi from the Northern District Prosecution. The defendants are Said ben Jad Madah (28) from Kisra-Sumei, Ronen ben Adham Araida (19) from Kiryat Shmona, and Iman ben Said Ibrahim (43) from Sajur.

The three are accused of murdering contractor Marwan Abu Shahin from Buq'ata and private investigator Saada Saada from Hurfeish. According to the indictment, Saada was not a target and happened to be at the scene by chance to discuss a traffic accident with Abu Shahin.

From extortion to the murder of a prosecution witness

According to the indictment, Abu Shahin had been subjected to extortion and threats by criminals from the Abu Nimer family. After he stopped paying, shots were fired at his home. Following an investigation, indictments were filed in February against ten individuals involved in the extortion case, and Abu Shahin became a key prosecution witness. One of the defendants in that case is Nasib Madah—the brother of Said Madah, who is now accused of the murder. The prosecution alleges that the defendants decided to kill Abu Shahin to prevent him from testifying.

Preparations for the liquidation began days in advance. Madah arrived in Buq'ata using the alias "Adam Hino" and conducted reconnaissance. A day before the murder, a room was booked under the name "Ahmed Hino," and two vehicles, a Seat and a Renault, were purchased in Daliyat al-Karmel.

Seven shots at close range

On June 19, the three moved to execute the plan. Around 12:00, Abu Shahin and Saada arrived in a Land Rover at the street where Abu Shahin lived. The defendants followed them, and one member of the cell exited the Seat and fired approximately seven shots at close range into the vehicle. Both victims were killed instantly. The cell then fled through open areas, switching to pre-staged vehicles.

A second shooting while on the run

The indictment includes an additional charge against Araida regarding an incident on July 5, while he was already being hunted by police. Araida entered a shawarma restaurant in Yarka armed with a Glock pistol and shot the owner, causing serious injury. During his escape, he fired at a pursuing police officer before being apprehended in a nearby orchard.

The prosecution has requested the detention of all three defendants until the end of the proceedings, citing evidence including security camera footage, DNA findings, fingerprints, cell tower data, and a confession provided to an undercover agent.