Elderly woman attacked over $1 succumbs to wounds

Matana Levi, 78, dies two days after neighbor struck her in the head with a hammer, saying she owed him 5 shekels for cleaning the stairs

By ToI Staff 3 May 2014, 8:41 pm

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Matana Levi (Channel 10 screenshot)

An elderly woman from Petah Tikvah died Saturday from a head wound allegedly inflicted by her hammer-wielding neighbor.

Seventy-eight-year-old Matana Levi was allegedly attacked by her neighbor Thursday. He said she owed him NIS 5 ($1.45) for cleaning their apartment block’s stairwell. Earlier reports had said that he struck her in the head with an ax, but later reports indicated the blow was dealt with a hammer.

Levi was admitted to Beilinson Hospital on Thursday evening with critical wounds. She was pronounced dead Saturday.

The suspect, whose name was not immediately released for publication, was arrested shortly after the incident. He was brought before the Petah Tivka Magistrate’s Court on Friday and his remand was extended for 10 days pending a psychiatric evaluation.

During his investigation by police, the suspect attacked an officer and unsuccessfully tried to escape his bonds, Ynet reported. Other residents of the apartment building said the man had a history of mental illness.