Israel Police arrest husband for allegedly murdering wife in Haifa

Daria Leitl, aged 30 from Haifa was found murdered early Friday, morning, with Israel Police arresting her 35-year-old husband on the spot for the crime, the police spokesperson said.

Leitl was murdered in her own home while her three children were there. According to Kan, her husband called emergency services and confessed to the crime.

An initial investigation revealed bruises and signs of strangulation on the body.

This is reportedly not the first domestic violence offense for the husband, Army Radio reported.

The couple turned to social services two years ago

"The couple was referred to social services in 2021 as a result of a relationship crisis," said head of the Welfare Administration Meira Kiperman. "The couple was treated throughout that year by social services on a number of levels."

Kiperman added that as soon as they heard about the murder, "a team of social workers and psychological experts went to the scene to care for the children in cooperation with the extended family."

"When they fought, he would leave the house and move to a different neighborhood," said Leitl's father Antoine. "She was with me last week and didn't tell me there was a problem. She was the smiliest in the world. I don't understand what happened to my daughter. Police officers came to me this morning and said 'your daughter was murdered.' She didn't tell me there was violence. She wanted to leave him and for that, he murdered her. I don't have a daughter now. It's awful."

"I'm not processing it," said Leitl's friend Daniella Mazor. "I saw it on the news and I came over here hoping it wasn't her. Yesterday she was at my place until 7 p.m.. There was no concern that something would happen to her otherwise I would never have allowed her to leave and I would have told her to stay at my place."

Mazor described Leitl as "a wonderful person, a dedicated mother to her three daughters and beautiful outside and in." She also said that Leitl had been studying psychology and Spanish.

"She knew that a breakup wouldn't be easy, and she said she would do it soon," said Mazor. "She was even looking for a new home. I didn't know the suspect, the relationship between them wasn't normal. She didn't get the things she deserved, but she stayed for the girls. I didn't like the quality of life she was living with. She knew she had to leave her husband but was looking for the right timing.

This is a developing story.