Two weeks after police said a fatal Petah Tikva construction death was the result of an accident, a lifted court-sanctioned gag order on Tuesday stated that the incident is now being investigated as a possible nationalistically-related murder.
On September 16, Nathaniel Roi Arami, 26, fell to his death while repelling from the eleventh floor of the central Israel construction site. However, it remained unclear how the married father of two, who was expecting a third child, lost control.
During an initial investigation into the case, an Arab co-worker was questioned by police, but released after denying any wrongdoing. However, according to members of Arami’s family, the fall was no accident.
“He was a champion at repelling work,” his father told police. “We always talked about the dangers and he assured me that he was safe.”
Arami’s brother echoed his father’s sentiments. “This was not a work accident,” he said. “Nathaniel was known as an expert in the field. He was very strict and safety always came first with him.”
Arami’s body was found by a coworker who was waiting to drive him home at the end of the day, police said.
It remains unclear who police are questioning for the alleged homicide.