The Tragic Case of Edward Kachura and the Death of Lital Yael Melnik
In a case that has sparked intense public debate, Edward Kachura, a psychiatric nurse, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the 2021 negligent homicide of an underage patient. The incident involved the tragic death of 17-year-old Lital Yael Melnik, who was buried in sand and left to suffocate.
The Haifa District Court initially cleared Kachura of murder in September but convicted him of a lesser charge. This decision came after he helped Melnik perform a “rebirth ceremony,” during which she was entirely buried in sand with a pipe to breathe through. The court emphasized the severity of his actions, noting that instead of acting as a responsible adult, Kachura participated in the ceremony and left Melnik partially covered in sand without ensuring her survival.
In addition to the negligent homicide charge, the court also convicted Kachura of abusing his position as a psychiatric nurse to engage in an illicit sexual relationship with Melnik. He was further found guilty of systematically violating lower court orders that prohibited him from having contact with her.
Family’s Response and Appeal Plans
Attorneys representing Melnik’s family expressed their disappointment with the court’s decision. They stated they will seek to appeal Kachura’s exoneration from murder. Despite the rejection of Kachura’s request for immediate release, the family continues to feel a sense of injustice due to his exoneration from murder.
The family’s legal team has approached the state prosecution to file an appeal against the conviction for negligent homicide rather than murder. Efrat Nahmany-Bar, representing the family, commented that while the sentence fits the crimes for which Kachura was convicted, the family will continue to fight for a murder conviction. She criticized the court’s decision, stating it missed the true essence of the controlling and criminal relationship between Kachura and Melnik.
Defense Perspective and Legal Arguments
On the other hand, Yavi Manor of the public defender’s office, representing Kachura, stated that his client is “pained by the tragic death of Yael.” He noted that the court accepted Kachura’s version of events, which he described as a “regrettable accident.” Manor mentioned there is substantial evidence supporting this claim and said he would study the sentence before considering further steps.
Kachura has been under arrest since 2021 and will serve three years in prison, taking into account the time already served. He was also ordered to pay a fine of NIS 140,000 ($43,440).
Public Outcry and Legal Expert Opinions
Hagit Peer, head of the Naamat women’s group, questioned how someone who buried a girl alive could not be considered a murderer. She emphasized that Melnik died a cruel death and that the person responsible will be a free man in a few years.
Legal experts cited by Ynet suggested that Melnik is unlikely to get early release from prison due to the sex offenses he was convicted of. Kachura was also found guilty of unlawful intercourse with a dependent and of violating a restraining order that Melnik’s grandmother had secured against him after discovering the relationship.
Court’s Ruling on the Cause of Death
The court rejected the prosecution’s charge that Melnik’s death was caused by a violent act that prevented her from taking her head out of the sand. Instead, the court found that she may have begun to lose consciousness due to a lack of oxygen by breathing through the tube, leading to sand and gravel entering her lungs and causing her death.
Six girls hospitalized alongside Melnik told the Walla news site that Kachura had a “special relationship” with a number of girls at the facility.
