'Mom, I was raped' – the nightmare night that changed the life of a 17-year-old Israeli

Matan Lugasi, 21, attacked a 17-year-old in Bat Yam, beating, robbing, and raping him. Despite irrefutable evidence, the case became one of the longest trials. The teen had to give detailed testimony, and the defense resorted to dirty tactics. Prosecutors describe the trauma of the case.

Several years ago, 21-year-old Matan Lugasi attacked a 17-year-old in Bat Yam as he was returning from his girlfriend's. Lugasi beat him, robbed him, and brutally raped him, leaving him bleeding. Despite irrefutable evidence—medical reports, camera footage, physical evidence—Lugasi did not admit guilt to the sexual crimes. The teen had to give detailed testimony in court, which re-traumatized him. The defense resorted to dirty tactics, claiming the teen had allegedly offered sex to men and was framing them. Prosecutors Rotem Neumann-Wasserman and Lital Koren, who handled the case, speak of its emotional weight. The verdict was handed down in May 2020, with judges describing Lugasi's actions as 'shocking in their cruelty.' The Supreme Court also noted the exceptional level of violence. The case became one of the longest trials, drawing an angry response from the Supreme Court.