Criminal9/15/2026

Defense Challenges Murder Charge in Benayahu Razi Case

The Jerusalem District Court permitted a change in the order in which the parties present their positions in the Benayahu Razi murder case: the prosecution must be the first to detail the evidence supporting the murder charge. The defense attorneys for Agam Tsarfati and Shilat Huta argue that the existing materials are insufficient to establish the required mental element.

Key facts

•Court: Jerusalem District Court
•Hearing: September 14, 2026
•Publication: September 15, 2026
•Defendants: Agam Tsarfati, Shilat Huta, and Linor Sasson
•No decision regarding release has yet been made
•The case number is not specified in the source

What Happened in Court

At the hearing on September 14, 2026, attorneys for Agam Tsarfati and Shilat Huta announced that they intended to challenge the existence of prima facie evidence supporting the murder charge. At their request, the court ruled that the prosecution would first present the evidentiary basis for the charge, the defense would then respond, and the prosecution would subsequently be permitted to reply. No final decision has yet been made regarding the sufficiency of the evidence or the defendants’ release.

The Defense Position of Tsarfati and Huta

Tsarfati’s attorney, Omri Stern, argues that she did not intend to cause the victim’s death and could not realistically have foreseen that the events would end in murder. Huta’s attorney, Amit Weizman, maintains that even proven knowledge that others had equipped themselves with weapons does not, by itself, prove an intent to kill. He also denies that Huta knew about the weapons and argues that the information attributed to her was provided under pressure during questioning.

The Question of Release

Huta’s defense seeks a ruling that there is no evidence against her concerning the murder and asks that she be released. According to Tsarfati’s attorney, the hearing on whether an initial evidentiary basis exists may last more than a month, after which the possibility of referring the defendants for the preparation of a report ahead of a potential release may be considered. The court has not yet ruled on these requests.

Linor Sasson’s Separate Position

Attorney Shalom Ben-Shabbat has also requested the release of Linor Sasson and is awaiting the court’s decision. According to him, Sasson is not charged with the murder itself, but with offenses related to providing assistance. The source does not specify the exact charges attributed to her.

What this means for you

At this stage, the court is not making a final determination on guilt, but is examining whether there is a sufficient initial evidentiary basis for the charge and continued detention. The order established requires the prosecution to show first, and concretely, which materials form the basis of the murder charge; by itself, this does not bring the proceedings to an end or result in the defendants’ release.

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Case analysis based on court rulings