Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extended the arrest of the murder suspect to last until July 25, police reported on Wednesday. The suspect is the victim's mother Sigal Yanna Itzkovitch, 33, from Herzliya. She will undergo a psychiatric evaluation as part of the judicial proceedings.
On Tuesday, July 16, Liam's body was discovered by his grandmother, who became worried after her calls went unanswered. The body showed signs of violent death. A dead dog with stab wounds was also found in the apartment. The grandmother's description of Liam's mother led the police to realize she was the same woman recently detained at a shopping center.
Less than an hour before Liam's body was found, Izkovitch had attacked passersby with an axe, causing injuries, and then approached a security guard. According to the guard, she appeared unstable, raised the axe, and swung it at him, injuring his arm. He speculated that she sought to be shot by the police, hoping for a "suicide by cop." She fell and lost her balance, and the guard detained her and called the police. It was also reported that she had a bleeding chest wound.
Given the context of domestic violence and the possibility of mental illness, the trial will be conducted behind closed doors. According to the district psychiatrist, the trial may proceed without Izkovitch's presence.
