Zvi Gur, Israel's longest-serving prisoner and one of the country's most infamous murderers, died on Friday of cancer at age 74.
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Gur was arrested in 1980 for the kidnap and murder of 8-year-old Oron Yarden. Gur snatched the boy near his home in Savyon, an affluent community in central Israel, and demanded a hefty ransom. The family paid, but Gur murdered Oron anyway.
The case was the first abduction-for-ransom of a child in Israel, sending shockwaves across the country.
The police captured Gur two weeks later. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 34 years. He escaped In 1985, but was captured six days later after a massive manhunt. In 1999, his sentence was commuted to a total of 45 years by then-President Ezer Weizman, making him eligible for parole in 2025.
Attorneys David Forer and Limor Levy, who represent the Yarden family, issued a statement saying, "There is no forgiveness for the person who murdered Oron Yarden when he was eight. Until today the murderer sat in prison, and starting today he will be punished in a heavenly court. We thank the prosecution for its steadfast, dedicated stand alongside the Yarden family."
