Suspect Charged in Killing of R’ Yishai Por A”H in Kollel Chazon Ish Stabbing Case
Prosecutors filed an indictment on Sunday against Guy Echtlinger, a 45-year-old homeless man, accusing him of murdering R’ Yishai Por A”H, who was stabbed to death last month while learning in Kollel Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak.
Alongside the murder charge, the indictment includes child abuse offenses, alleging Echtlinger forced the victim’s 13-year-old son to witness the killing, as well as charges of obstruction of justice. R’ Por A”H had been learning with his only son at the time, a child born after many years of marriage.
According to prosecutors, the two men were acquainted through Torah study at the kollel. About a week before the attack, Echtlinger allegedly threatened R’ Por A”H, telling him he would “cut off his head,” before later, for reasons that remain unclear, carrying out the killing.
According to prosecutors, on May 24 Echtlinger came to the kollel while R’ Por and his son were sitting on a bench with their backs toward the entrance. He is said to have entered wearing a glove and holding a knife, then walked up behind them and repeatedly stabbed R’ Por in the neck and back.
He then fled the scene, allegedly hiding his jacket, glove, and weapon in an abandoned building before escaping to Beit Shemesh. He was arrested hours later following a police manhunt led by Israel Police.
R’ Por A”H was rushed by Magen David Adom to Sheba Medical Center in critical condition with severe blood loss and was niftar shortly after arrival.
The case was investigated by Israel Police and led to the indictment filed on Sunday.
