Suspect indicted in grisly double homicide at Netanya homeless shelter
Alexander Mirzoev allegedly murdered roommate Vyacheslav Padkin, hid his body, and a week later murdered Beit Yael’s manager Avi Vanunu
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
The man accused of murdering the manager and a fellow resident in a homeless shelter and drug rehabilitation center in the northern city of Netanya purchased two axes and a knife weeks in advance, according to an indictment handed down on Thursday.
According to the charge sheet, 54-year-old Alexander Mirzoev, who had been living in the Beit Yael center since April 2016, bought the weapons in June and kept them hidden in his room inside a plastic bag.
On July 27, Mirzoev and his roommate Vyacheslav Padkin allegedly spent the evening talking and drinking in their room. During the conversation, Mirzoev decided to murder Padkin. After Padkin fell asleep on his bed, Mirzoev is said to have taken one of the axes, striking him on the head several times and killing him instantly.
The next day Mirzoev wrapped the body in large plastic bags and hid it under Padkin’s bed so that it would not be discovered, the indictment said. Mirzoev started sleeping on that bed.
When asked about the odor coming from the room, Mirzoev allegedly said that there was a dead mouse trapped behind the wall and told people his roommate had gone away for surgery.
Two days later, Mirzoev decided to also kill the manager of the center, Avi Vanunu. On August 2, a week after the first murder, Mirzoev entered Vanunu’s office area carrying an ax in a plastic bag. He then pulled out the ax and hit Vanunu on the head, killing him, the charge sheet said.
When another worker arrived and realized what had happened, Mirzoev allegedly tried to kill her too, but she dodged his blows. Mirzoev was eventually restrained by another worker.
The indictment said Mirzoev admitted to all the charges, and described all of the events to investigators.
Prosecutors requested the defendant be kept in custody, saying he posed a very high risk to public safety.
After the incident, Vanunu’s nephew praised his uncle, saying he had dedicated his life to helping others.
“He personally helped thousands of teens and drug addicts,” he said. “All his life he was involved in giving and helping others.”
The Times of Israel Community.