Cleared for Publication: The Accused in the Murder of Rabbi Gueta is Yosef Chaim Friedrich

Cleared for publication: The accused in the murder of Rabbi Amos Gueta is Yosef Chaim Friedrich, 36, who confessed in interrogation that the rabbi was a 'false messiah'. The indictment reveals prior planning, posing as a worshiper, multiple stabbings, and a struggle with the rabbi's assistant.

It has been cleared for publication that the accused in the murder of the kabbalist Rabbi Amos Gueta is Yosef Chaim Friedrich, 36. The indictment, filed today (Thursday) at the Central District Court, charges him with aggravated murder, aggravated assault, and illegal possession of a knife. The indictment reveals new details: Friedrich planned the murder in advance, took a 21 cm knife from the yeshiva kitchen, arrived at the rabbi's home at 5:39 AM, and posed as a worshiper. After reciting a chapter of Psalms, he pulled out the knife and stabbed the rabbi. The rabbi's assistant, Yaakov, tried to stop him and was wounded in the hand. Friedrich fled but was caught after about three hours. In his interrogations, he confessed to the murder, called the rabbi a 'false messiah', and claimed that 'inside his liver is the angel Samael Iblis'. In further interrogations, he remained silent or gave irrelevant answers. The prosecution has strong evidence, including Yaakov's testimony, the knife with the rabbi's DNA, security footage, and medical records. Rabbi Gueta was bedridden and helpless. The accused has a criminal record and a French passport, and his detention has been extended until the end of proceedings.