Tair Rada's mother accuses police of 'dragging their feet' on reopening murder case

Ilana Rada, the mother of Tair Rada, a victim of a notorious 2006 murder case, has publicly accused the Israeli police of "dragging their feet" in their efforts to reopen the investigation into her daughter's death.

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I think they've reached the bottom of the bottom here. It's not possible for the state to release someone who was accused of murder, pay him compensation, and stand behind this ruling - but leave the murder case unknown, as if it doesn't matter who murdered Tair.

"I think they've reached the bottom of the bottom here," Ilana stated in a recent interview, expressing her deep frustration. She questioned the state's actions, noting that an individual accused of the murder, Roman Zadarov, was acquitted in 2023, compensated, and yet the murder case itself remains officially unsolved. "It's not possible for the state to release someone who was accused of murder, pay him compensation, and stand behind this ruling - but leave the murder case unknown, as if it doesn't matter who murdered Tair," she lamented.

Ilana's lawyer, Tal Ben-Even, pointed out the unusual nature of the police's approach, noting that a committee was established last year specifically to evaluate whether to reopen Tair's case. "This is an unusual thing," Ben-Even commented, adding, "They have invented something here which doesn't exist: A committee to investigate whether to open the case." He asserted that the police should either officially reopen the investigation or close it, rather than engaging in what he perceives as procedural delays.

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This is an unusual thing. They have invented something here which doesn't exist: A committee to investigate whether to open the case.

Furthermore, Ben-Even claims that the police have failed to examine new evidence that has emerged over the years, particularly with advancements in technology. He emphasized the broader implications, stating, "We are all Ilana Rada. There is a 14-year-old girl who was murdered 20 years ago whose murder case has not been solved or even opened. This truth is of no interest to any of the leaders of the law enforcement agencies." The police, however, have rejected these allegations, maintaining that the case is complex and their investigative teams are actively working towards uncovering the truth. The stark contrast between the family's persistent calls for justice and the police's stated commitment to a complex investigation underscores the ongoing pain and unresolved questions surrounding Tair Rada's murder.

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We are all Ilana Rada. There is a 14-year-old girl who was murdered 20 years ago whose murder case has not been solved or even opened. This truth is of no interest to any of the leaders of the law enforcement agencies.