Elhayn Worku
An individual convicted of the 2021 murder of Musa Ismail Abakar in Haifa, sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Elhayn Worku is an individual who was convicted for his involvement in a fatal assault that occurred in September 2021. The case centered on the murder of Musa Ismail Abakar, a 28-year-old man who was attacked by Worku and three other accomplices. According to the judicial findings, the group utilized wooden boards and stones to inflict severe injuries upon the victim. The court emphasized the brutality of the act, noting that Worku continued to strike Abakar even after he had fallen to the ground and was no longer able to defend himself. This persistence in the assault was a key factor in the severity of the sentencing.
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the Haifa District Court delivered its final sentence in the matter. Worku was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder. In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a significant financial penalty, ordering Worku to pay 258,000 NIS in compensation to the estate of the deceased. The ruling concludes a multi-year legal process following the 2021 incident, reflecting the Israeli judiciary's stance on violent crime and the necessity of accountability for lethal group assaults. The case highlights ongoing efforts by the Israeli legal system to address severe violence within urban centers like Haifa and provides a measure of closure for the victim's family through both criminal punishment and civil restitution.