Soldier stabbed to death in apparent drunken brawl

Police say binge drinking led to deadly altercation; 3 murders reported over weekend.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
murder crime scene 248.88 (photo credit: Channel 2 (file))
murder crime scene 248.88
(photo credit: Channel 2 (file))
A 20-year-old soldier from the Golani Brigade was stabbed to death early Friday morning during a drunken brawl with other youths in Rishon Lezion. Oren Hen was found by Magen David Adom paramedics critically injured by a wound sustained in a schoolyard, and rushed to Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Tzrifin. A few hours later, Hen, who took part in combat operations during Cast Lead, succumbed to his wounds. Rishon Lezion police arrested a youth on murder charges. The suspect, Wogda Malik, is a local resident and was recently released from prison, police said. Police suspect the fight broke out following an oral confrontation between groups of youths, who had been binge drinking. After the stabbing, Malik fled the scene, police added. He was arrested in his home, where officers also recovered a pocket knife. Malik has denied all charges, but a Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court judge extended his custody by six days over the weekend. Two additional murders were reported over the weekend. In the Beduin village of Lakiya, northeast of Beersheba, Basher al-Sanna, 19, was shot in the head near his home early on Saturday morning. He was declared dead on arrival at Beersheba's Soroka University Medical Center. Police arrested two suspects in the shooting on Saturday and are investigating whether the murder was linked to an ongoing vendetta between clans in the village. Also on Saturday, a 26-year-old man from Tira was shot dead, identified as Kahad Matzri. He arrived at his home in critical condition suffering from gunshot wounds, and was evacuated by paramedics to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, where he was declared dead. Police launched a hunt for the gunman.