Despite guilty verdict, mother of teen murder victim unsure

The Supreme court rejected on Wednesday the appeal of Roman Zadorov, upholding his conviction in the 2006 murder of 13-year-old Tair Rada at her school in northern Israel.

The panel of three judges ruled 2-1, leaving a lingering doubt over whether Zadorov is indeed the murderer. It was the second time an appeal made by Zadorov was rejected.

Rada was found at a bathroom stall in her school in Katzrin, with stab wounds and slashes all over her body. Despite Zadorov's sentencing to life in prison in 2010, some believe he confessed under duress and that the real murderer may still be on the loose.

Even Rada's parents, Ilana and Shmuel, have differing opinions on Zadorov's guilt.

Shmuel is in hospital fighting cancer, and was not able to be present in the courtroom on Wednesday. Immediately after court let out, Ilana rushed to his side at Baruch Padeh Medical Center in Poriya.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Shmuel told Israel Hayom: "I have always said Zadorov was the murderer, not anyone else. I didn't change my mind even for a moment.

"Justice must be done and seen. If only I could execute him. That lowly, cruel murderer must rot in jail until his final days."

On the other hand, Ilana feels unsure about the conviction and plans to write a letter to the Supreme Court president asking for an expanded panel of judges to review the case and to open a new investigation.

"They did not provide answers for many questions that have filled my heart with doubt," she said. "[I have questions] regarding the hair found in Tair's hand and the doubts about Zadorov's shoe print. I have this feeling that the real murderer is out there, free."

According to her, police investigators ignored information she gave them that pointed to the possibility of the murderer, or murderers, having been among the Rada's peers.

"That information stressed them out, but they didn't look into it," Ilana said. "They announced that Zadorov was the murderer and they never backed down from that.

"I once believed in the justice system, but I was mistaken. These days everyone knows that a child can commit murder, too. I will chase Tair's murderers until the day I die."

The two judges who upheld the conviction were Justices Isaac Amit and Zvi Zylbertal, while Justice Yoram Danziger maintained that there was sufficient reasonable doubt to exonerate Zadorov.

Zadorov's lawyers said they would request another Supreme Court deliberation, with additional judges, due to Danziger's minority opinion.

State Attorney Shai Nitzan spoke to the press on Wednesday, saying: "Majority opinion ruled loudly and clearly that this was not a borderline case, and that it was a firm conviction. Indeed, there was also a minority opinion, but the judge in the minority said he was only a short step away from conviction and that for him, it was very much a borderline case.

"It is written in the ruling that every piece of evidence was discussed and examined to the finest detail. The court was loud and clear.

"For years, there has been a defamation campaign against police, expert witnesses and attorneys who handled the case. I hope this ruling will put an end to the witch hunt."

Zadorov's wife, Olga, believes her husband is innocent. "The case is built on lies from the prosecutor and the police. I feel bad for Tair's parents, who have not received the truth. Their daughter is turning in her grave because she knows that her murderer is free."

Zadorov's attorneys, Avigdor Feldman and Elkana Leist, were disappointed with the ruling. Feldman said: "We expected Zadorov to be exonerated, we regret that that didn't happen.

"We are convinced that there is no evidence to convict him of murder. There are too many questions in this case."

Leist added: "We believe the minority opinion is correct. This is not the end of the road for us. We will continue to fight as long as the judicial process allows us to do so."

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