JERUSALEM (JTA) — The mother and grandfather of a 4-year-old girl murdered in Israel were sentenced to life in prison for killing her.
Ronny Ron and Marie Renault were sentenced Monday in Petach Tikvah District Court for the murder of Rose Pizem in 2008. The girl, who was born in Paris, was the daughter of Renault, a French Jew, and Benjamin Pizem, Ron’s son. Renault later began a relationship with and moved in with Ron in Israel.
Last month, Ron was convicted of first-degree murder and Renault was convicted of soliciting the murder. The couple was convicted of killing Rose and placing her body in a red suitcase that was thrown into the Yarkon River.
The suitcase holding the body was found in the river in September 2008 following an extensive search for the girl, who had been missing for four months.
During the sentencing hearing, Ron was denied his request to testify again, where he reportedly planned to say that Pizem died when he struck her because of his martial arts training and that her death was accidental.
The couples’ attorney said he would appeal the sentence to the Israeli Supreme Court.
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