The driver suspected of running over Amichai Atiya will remain in custody: the judge cast doubt on his version

The Hadera Magistrate's Court extended by two days the detention of Mahmoud Samahat, suspected of causing the death of Amichai Atiya, may he rest in peace. The judge ruled there is no indication of intentional running over, but raised question marks regarding the driver's version, according to which he did not know he hit Atiya. The police requested eight days, but the judge ordered only two.

The Hadera Magistrate's Court extended by two days the detention of Mahmoud Samahat, 21, suspected of causing the death of Amichai Atiya, 17, may he rest in peace, at the "Mall HaHof Village" complex in Hadera. The police requested an eight-day extension, but Judge Ehud Kaplan ruled that only a limited number of investigative actions remain to be completed by tomorrow. In the hearing, the police clarified that the incident was initially investigated as a nationalist-motivated incident, but that suspicion has weakened. The judge ruled that "there is no indication whatsoever that this was a deliberate act or that the running over occurred with the understanding that there was a person in the path of travel." However, he pointed to question marks in the suspect's version, noting there are indications that his version is incorrect, and that the manner in which the deceased was run over could not have escaped his notice. The judge added that even if Samahat feared for his life at that moment, fleeing to Netanya seems illogical. His attorneys argued that Samahat fled fearing for his life after a crowd gathered around his vehicle, and that he did not notice hitting Atiya. The police said the claim is still being investigated. The judge ordered the police to complete by tomorrow the investigative actions that could be compromised if the suspect is released, and ruled that if the police requests another extension, it must arrive with all security camera footage.