Mocked and set a dog on brothers: Young man from Zichron Ya'akov accused of violent assault
Yair Ovadia and his minor friend are accused of attacking two brothers who were walking in the town after calling them names based on their sexual orientation. The two hit them with fists and the minor even ordered his dog to attack. The prosecution is requesting to extend Ovadia's detention until the end of the proceedings.
At the Hadera Magistrate's Court, the Coastal District investigation unit of the police filed an indictment against Yair Ovadia, an 18-year-old from Zichron Ya'akov, for the violent assault of two brothers.
According to the indictment, on the night of Saturday, July 18, around 22:30, the two were walking on HaNadiv Street in the center of Zichron Ya'akov, when Ovadia and his minor friend, who was leading a Belgian Shepherd dog, approached them. It is alleged that they began to mock the brothers, imitate their movements, and call them names based on their sexual orientation.
When one of the brothers asked them to stop, Ovadia responded with curses, pushed him, and began to punch him in the face and ribs. The indictment states that while the dog was barking and jumping on the victim, Ovadia and his minor friend attacked him together. When the second brother arrived to help, Ovadia also attacked him with a punch to his nose. The indictment states that the minor then removed the dog's muzzle and called out to it "attack". The brothers sustained injuries and were evacuated for medical treatment at Hillel Yaffe Hospital.
Zichron Ya'akov station investigated the incident. Yair Ovadia and the minor were arrested that same evening. The minor has since been released, but Ovadia has been in custody ever since. During his interrogation, he denied the allegations, claiming he met the complainants for the first time at the police station. The prosecution emphasizes that although he has no prior convictions, another indictment is pending against him in the Hadera Magistrate's Court for offenses of threats and assault.
"The danger posed by him is at the highest level, as he is someone who commits the acts attributed to him spontaneously, without any prior acquaintance with the complainants, and all on the basis of sexual orientation," stated police prosecutor Inspector Adv. Lia Lavenda.
Judge Nurit Herzman Avi-Itzhak, who is presiding over the case, noted:
"The very fact that he was not deterred from engaging in severe and significant violence while a proceeding is pending against him creates a worrying picture."
In the meantime, the judge extended the detention of Yair Ovadia, who had just finished 12th grade and was supposed to be drafted into the IDF in August.
