Palestinian woman beaten to death

Abuse victim Randa Mahariek Jerusalem – Sona Adeek A father murdered his own daughter with his son and buried her in their garden. The pair has been charged with murder, while a doctor was charged with perjury by Hebron prosecutor Mohammed Ghabon. 33 year-old Randa Mahariek was severely beaten and abused for several days. A court heard that she died of her injuries in July 2012. To avoid raising any suspicions, the father convinced a doctor to produce a death certificate which stated that she died of an epileptic fit. A neighbour witnessed the burial of the girl and alerted the police. The authorities exhumed the body, the autopsy revealed seven broken ribs, among other injuries. Her brother said to the court that he had an argument with her, slapped and punched her in the chest until she fell unconscious. He said that he left the room when she passed out. The investigation showed that the deceased had asked for protection back in February 2012. The mother of the victim told the court that she had been forced into a marriage with a man who was 51 years older than her. He regularly beat her up and abused her. He was then prosecuted and sent to prison by Israeli authorities. When he came out of prison he threw her out of his home. Since then she was exposed to daily violence and abuse. Murders of women in Palestine are becoming increasingly common. A man slaughtered his wife last week in the streets of Bethlehem. A high school student was stabbed seven times by her father in Tulkarem after he discovered that she failed her exams three weeks ago.