http://www.cnn.com/1999/WORLD/meast/12/15/canada.israel.ap/index.html
Police say suspect in beating death flew to Israel
December 15, 1999
TORONTO (AP) -- Police issued a murder warrant Wednesday for a youth
who flew to Israel a week after the beating death of a teen-age boy.
Daniel Weiz, 19, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dimitri
Baranovski, 15, who was attacked by a group in a city park on Nov. 14, said
police Sgt. Joe Gataveckas.
He said Canada is working with Israeli authorities to "make sure he can be
brought to justice."
Weiz's mother lives in Israel and his father lives in Canada, and Weiz has
traveled between the two countries since becoming a permanent Canadian
resident in 1995, said police spokesman Devin Kealey.
Two 16-year-old boys have been arrested and charged with second-degree
murder in Baranovski's death.
Police have described the case as a random assault by a group wearing masks.
In an earlier case, a young American man accused of a killing in Maryland fled
to Israel, and successfully sought refuge from extradition under a law that
prevents Israeli citizens being returned for trial in foreign countries.
In that case, an Israeli judge sentenced 19-year-old Samuel Sheinbein to 24
years in prison in Israel. Sheinbein claimed Israeli citizenship through his
father, who was born in the country.
Copyright 1999 The Associated Press.
http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?id=63649&mador=1&datee=12/19/99
Sunday, December 19, 1999
Canada asks for extradition of IDF soldier suspected in murder
By Neta Gurevitch, Amos Harel and Gideon Alon, Ha'aretz
Correspondents
Canada has asked Israel for the extradition of a 19-year-old Israeli
soldier suspected of involvement in the murder of a 15-year-old youth in
a gang attack in a Toronto park in November.
Canadian authorities said they had issued the request for the extradition of
Daniel Weiz, currently serving in an infantry battalion in the West Bank.
Weiz's parents are divorced; his father lives in Toronto and his mother
lives in Tel Aviv.
Weiz's family immigrated from Moldavia and he went to live with his
father in Canada. He moved to Israel two years ago, however, and
enlisted in the army after he was charged in Canada for aggravated
assault. Here he is listed as a "solitary soldier" and was in Canada in
November on army leave that is typically granted to soldiers who have a
parent living abroad.
The Toronto press has been brimming with reports over the November
14 killing of Dimitri Baranovski, who was playing with five friends in a
park in the northern section of Toronto when a dozen older boys, some of
them masked, descended on the younger boys, demanding money and
cigarettes. All the younger boys fled except for Baranovski, who did not
get away in time and was severely beaten and kicked. He died of his
injuries the next day.
Two people - one from Britain and another from the Soviet Union - have
been charged with second-degree murder in the affair. Another suspect
was arrested last Friday. Weiz's name came up early in the investigation,
but police only had enough evidence last Thursday to put together a
request for his arrest here.
Spokespersons for the Israeli Justice Ministry, Foreign Ministry and
police say that Israel has yet to receive an official request for his arrest.
Israel and Canada have an extradition agreement between them.
Weiz's family in Israel, interviewed by Canadian media, denied that the
Israeli soldier was in any way involved in the affair. They say he has been
in the army since his return from Canada and that they cannot reach him.
Weiz's commander learned of the affair from newspaper reports on
Friday morning. The army has tried to find Weiz, but he is on leave and is
due to report back to the army only today. It is likely that his weapon will
be taken from him, but no other steps against him are currently planned.
The army is awaiting orders on the matter from the Justice Ministry.
Meanwhile, two Canadian detectives involved in the investigation are
expected to arrive in Israel to aid in Weiz's arrest.
In October 1998, Weiz was charged with aggravated assault after being
involved in a fight. Before legal proceedings against him were completed,
he fled to Israel and enlisted in the army. When he returned to Canada on
leave in August, he was apprehended by Canadian authorities and put on
trial. The army says he was sentenced to prison time and returned to
Israel after serving his term. The officers were kept informed of the
proceedings against him, but described him as a good, disciplined soldier.
Canadian classmates describe Weiz as a popular kid who spent a lot of
time lifting weights and playing hockey and soccer. But one classmate
said that Weiz seemed at times to have a hard time making the transition
to Canada from the former Soviet Union.
(c) copyright 1999 Ha'aretz. All Rights Reserved
