The tragedy in Antella, a municipality in Valencia, continues to affect Ilham Najah’s family. Ilham, a 38-year-old man, was fatally stabbed by his ex-wife last Sunday, and his children now face the difficult task of reclaiming belongings from the home where the crime occurred. Initially, access to the residence was limited, with only certain individuals allowed inside to retrieve personal items. A relative spoke to the editor of this newspaper, explaining that the residents could enter to collect their things but were not permitted to stay inside the house for extended periods.
The homeowner returned early today and handed the keys to Ilham’s oldest daughter, who is 18 years old. Following the publicized report by Levante-EMV and the arrival of several television crews in Antella, residents learned of this development. The town, part of Ribera Alta, has been in the spotlight since the information appeared in the local press this week.
The property owner stated that he did not intend to bar the male heirs from spending time on the ground floor. He explained that he asked his brother to replace the lock because the door had not closed properly since the tragedy, noting that a neighbor had even forced entry by kicking the door. In the moments before the incident, Ilham’s eldest daughter and the family’s youngest son, who is 12, were nearby helping. The owner argued that a copy of a key had not been provided on Thursday because the daughter did not have the house key at that time. He added that the new lock is the type sold with multiple copies to ensure access for authorized people. A woman present on Thursday when Ilham’s eldest daughter attempted entry said she would have provided the key once the lock was changed.
The young woman stated she could not enter to stay, only to retrieve their belongings. Civil Guards confirmed the same sentiment, indicating that entry was allowed strictly for collecting items. She could not review the rental contract since it was inside the house, and the Guards stood vigilant at the entrance as Ilham’s daughter and relatives gathered outside. They confronted the situation openly, denying certain claims surrounding the events that led to the family’s current predicament.
The landlord addressed the media in the street, and it soon emerged that Ilham’s children remained outside despite being direct victims of gender-based violence. The suggestion that they stayed on the street because their monthly rent had been paid did not sit well with the family. Unless a party with authority informs the landlord of changes, tenants cannot be barred from entering or residing in the property, a point that has complicated the family’s housing situation as August’s rent payment cycle comes to an end and a new payment period looms. The family will need to settle the upcoming month’s rent, and the landlord noted that arrangements would be made for the next payment window when it arrives in August.
In addition, the landlady indicated plans to secure the premises the following day, bearing in mind there is a cleaning team scheduled to remove any visible traces of the crime. It remained unclear whether those plans were executed or altered in light of recent events. Elevator-EMV and Prensa Ibérica reported that Ilham’s eldest daughter had filed a formal inquiry at Court No. 7 in Alzira on Thursday. The on-duty clerk handled the initial task of gathering personal belongings, including a passport, a wallet, house and car keys, but did not recover a cellphone because the Civil Guards retained it. She was told she could proceed to the apartment, as the crime scene investigators had concluded their work on site.
Sources close to the landlords claimed that Ilham’s eldest daughter did not reside at the home and had recently travelled from Italy after learning of her mother’s death. She disputed the claim, saying that she had not been living in Italy and had only arrived a few weeks earlier to visit relatives. The evolving story reflects the emotional and logistical complexity facing the family during a time of acute grief and uncertainty about property rights, access, and ongoing investigations.