The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court today (Wednesday) ordered the release under house arrest of the lawyer arrested in the murder and kidnapping case of Nissim Sheetrit and the murder of Avi Edri.
Police representatives argued at the hearing that the evidence against him grew stronger and that he was a suspect who planned Sheetrit's murder and abduction and gave instructions to others, but the judge noted that despite the material submitted for review, he could not be linked to the incident and ordered his release under house arrest until the 17th of the month.
At this time, the court hearings are continuing on the detention extensions of the other suspects arrested.
"Link himself to suspicions": Rabbi Berland's detention extended by nine days / Photo: Yoni Rickner
Last Wednesday, police investigators arrived at a forest in the Jerusalem area in an attempt to locate the remains of Nissim Sheetrit, who disappeared in 1986.
During a hearing last week in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extending the detention of five suspects involved in the affair, the police representative said that there was a significant development in the investigation, noting that investigators now know when Sheetrit was killed and who committed the act.
Regarding one of the suspects, the police representative added that he took an active part in the abduction and murder, which apparently took place near the time of the abduction.
She announced that investigators needed to carry out another 36 investigative actions.
During the same hearing on extending the detention of the same suspect it was learned that he linked themselves and admitted involvement in the murder of Sheetrit and even indicted other people involved.
He did so, it emerged at the hearing, after meeting with Berland the day before and the latter instructing him to cooperate with investigators.
However he did not remember where the body was buried, according to his lawyer.
The judge then extended by eight days the detention of that suspect.
"Since the last detention extension, the unit has carried out numerous investigative actions," the judge noted.
"This evidence has significantly strengthened the suspicion. In view of the acts and the significant development of the investigative proceedings, there is room to allow the investigating unit to continue the investigative activities."
It will be recalled that Rabbi Eliezer Berland, the leader of the Shuvu Banim congregation, was arrested as part of the investigation into this affair and the murder of the late Avi Edri in 1990.
