Proving murder without a body: "She burst into tears and screamed in the courtroom" | Harsh descriptions
The remains of Nivin al-Amrani, murdered six years ago, were found in the Negev. The prosecutors describe how they proved murder without a body, relying on the testimony of a caregiver who witnessed the killing and on forensic evidence. The brother-murderer was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
Six years ago, Nivin al-Amrani, a 20-year-old from Hura in the Negev, disappeared. About a month after her disappearance, her brother Sari reported her missing to the police, and the investigation revealed that her brother Naaman had murdered her by stabbing and kicking, with the help of their nephew Nasir. Her body was hidden and for years was not found. Naaman was convicted in a plea deal and sentenced to 28 years in prison. About two weeks ago, remains were discovered in an open area in the Negev, and this week they were identified as those of Nivin. The prosecutors, attorneys Limor Ahrak Shenitzer and Alex Drenbaum, describe how they proved murder without a body, relying on the testimony of the caregiver Hanan who witnessed the murder, on bloodstains found under concrete poured at the scene, and on additional evidence such as cell phones and communication records. The article describes the difficulties in the caregiver's testimony, as she feared the defendants and struggled with language, but her testimony was supported by forensic evidence.