12punto follows every moment: Third day of the Sinan Ateş trial concludes

The 3rd session of the first hearing of the case involving 22 defendants regarding the murder of former Ülkü Ocakları Chairman Sinan Ateş began at 09:00. Lawyer statements are continuing in the hearing. Emine Tosun, the lawyer for the instigator Doğukan Çep, who is being tried for "premeditated murder by acting in concert and collectively" against Sinan Ateş, stated, "Sinan Ateş was caught in the middle of a conflict." Tolgahan Demirbaş's lawyer, Murat Ofli, said, "My client is neither an instigator nor an accomplice in any part of the incident. The allegation of instigation is baseless." After the lawyers for the 19 defendants completed their defense, the 3rd session concluded. The hearing will continue tomorrow at 09:00.

On the third day of the trial, which former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu attended as an observer, journalist and 12punto columnist Müyesser Yıldız reported the developments moment by moment.

The trial of 22 defendants regarding the murder of former Ülkü Ocakları Chairman Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinan Ateş continued. Today's session began with the Presiding Judge's warning to politicians.

In today's third session of the trial, held in the courtroom at the Sincan Prison complex by the Ankara 32nd High Criminal Court, the Presiding Judge reminded that a decision had previously been made to remove those who disrupt the order of the hearing and not to readmit them. After stating that those previously removed would be readmitted for this one time, he cited the example of National Path Party (Milli Yol Partisi) Chairman Remzi Çayır being removed from the courtroom yesterday, stating that such behavior would be considered political interference in the judiciary and that if it recurs, all political party representatives would be removed from the courtroom.

The last defendant to present his defense, Umut Ersoy, stated that he works as a taxi driver and only learned why he was arrested when the indictment was issued, saying, "It is alleged that I spoke with Suat Kurt. I do not know Suat Kurt at all."

HE ACCUSED ATEŞ'S FRIENDS

After the defense of the 22 defendants was completed, the proceedings moved to the statements of their lawyers.

The lawyer for the hitman Eray Özyağcı claimed that there were contradictions in Sinan Ateş's autopsy report, suggesting that the shots to Ateş's head and abdominal area were fired by someone else. Drawing attention to the friends who were with Ateş during the assassination, the lawyer said, "Instead of helping the wounded Sinan Ateş, they are spiriting away the weapons. What is the reason? Why was this not investigated?" and requested that the nature of the crime be changed and that an additional statement be taken from Eray Özyağcı for armed intentional injury.

Özyağcı's lawyer also noted that it should be revealed how many phones Sinan Ateş had.

The lawyer for Vedat Balkaya, who escaped the scene on a motorcycle with Eray Özyağcı after the assassination, also explained that his client was only aware that Sinan Ateş would be wounded, that he was not at the scene, and therefore could not be charged with premeditated murder.

Emine Tosun, the lawyer for Doğukan Çep, who planned the attack on Sinan Ateş, stated that it was evident from the photos published in the media how Çep's statement was taken, but that a report was issued stating, "No signs of battery or force were found." She requested that a criminal complaint be filed primarily against the doctors who issued this report. Attorney Tosun made the following claims in summary:

ASK MIT WHO ATEŞ AND HIS FRIENDS ARE

"When the camera footage, autopsy report, and other evidence are evaluated together, it is understood that Sinan Ateş was caught in the middle of a conflict. It is unclear whether all bullet fragments belong to Eray Özyağcı. Immediately after the incident, Ateş's companion Ahmet Keçik takes the weapons and runs away. Then he gives an irrational explanation, saying, 'I took them so they wouldn't get lost.' You cannot remove something from a scene like this. This is a crime, and Ahmet Keçik is in a position to know this. Leaving aside the teacher-student and spiritual bond between Sinan Ateş and Ahmet Keçik, what person would think of this first instead of helping? This behavior brings the following question to mind: Were there bullet fragments from Ahmet Keçik or Selman Bozkurt in Sinan Ateş's body, which is why this was done?"

HE WAS NOT EVEN QUESTIONED WHILE A SUSPECT

Asking where all the bullets from these stolen weapons are, Attorney Tosun also said the following "so that justice is found in the court, not in the media, political parties, or here and there":

"Who was in Sinan Ateş's office? Who entered and left the office until the weapons were handed over? Let the camera footage be brought in. Who is Ahmet Keçik? He says he is a student, but my goodness, he uses weapons incredibly well. Who is this person? Let his Social Security Institution (SGK) records be checked. Has MIT or the Police created a file on Ahmet Keçik, Selman Bozkurt, or even Sinan Ateş in the past? What are their relationships? If they exist, let them be added to the file."

Stating that Ahmet Keçik's name was initially included in the file as a suspect, but that there is currently no statement from him even as a witness, Attorney Tosun asked, "When was he removed from the file while he was a suspect?"

Attorney Emine Tosun also noted the following regarding Sinan Ateş's autopsy:

"How was the autopsy performed? The court requested the autopsy footage. Even though it was reiterated, photos were sent every time as if mocking the court. The court's order is not being obeyed, and this is not being prevented. What is in this video that it is not being brought to court?"

Saying, "Yes, my client is an instigator; but this was not aimed at killing," Attorney Tosun also made the following claims regarding Sinan Ateş at the end of her statement:

"Doğukan Çep said that Sinan Ateş occasionally asked him to conduct research on certain people. What business would an academic have with someone who is wanted? Looking at the expert report on Sinan Ateş's WhatsApp correspondence, we understand that Sinan Ateş was involved in some unlawful activities."

The hearing began as of 09:00.

STATEMENT FROM KILIÇDAROĞLU ON 'SİNAN ATEŞ'

Speaking during the break in the third session, former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu responded to Doğukan Çep's words in the courtroom, "Where is Mr. Kemal?"

Kılıçdaroğlu said the following:

"They cannot stomach it because I am seeking justice. This is a political trial. They think, 'We will commit the murder, we have our superiors behind us, they will come and cover it up,' but they saw that Mr. Kemal is facing them, a person who defends justice.

In a world without justice, how will we raise our children? Therefore, Sinan Ateş is an academic raised by this country. We will not close our eyes and ignore it when he is murdered in the middle of the street! Even if their masters come, we will follow this case."

ALLEGATION THAT SANİYE ATEŞ WILL BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL

According to journalist Oğuz Bakır; It was stated that Sinan Ateş's mother, Saniye Ateş, who was following the trial, would be taken to the hospital inside the prison due to low blood pressure.

12punto obtained images of Saniye Ateş, who felt unwell and was given an IV drip.

Here is that photo:

HISTORY OF THE CASE

The Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court filed a lawsuit against only 22 detained defendants on April 26 and accepted the indictment on May 7.

Among the 22 detained defendants to be tried are former Ülkü Ocakları executives Tolgahan Demirbaş, Emre Yüksel, and Serdar Öktem.

In the indictment, aggravated life imprisonment is requested for hitman Eray Özyağcı and those who brought him to the scene and helped him escape, Vedat Balkaya and Suat Kurt, for the crime of "premeditated murder."

Aggravated life imprisonment is requested for Doğukan Çep, who is alleged to have "organized the armed action," and the suspect former Ülkü Ocakları executive Tolgahan Demirbaş for the crime of "premeditated murder by acting in concert and collectively against the victim as an instigator of the crime."

Imprisonment is requested for the defendants Zekeriya Asarlaya, Hakan Saraç, Ufuk Köktürk, Mehmet Yüce, Mustafa Uzunlar, Aşkın Mert Gelenbey, Murat Can Çolak, Osman Bayraktar, Caner Güney, Umut Ersoy, Çağlar Zorlu, Aytaç Ataç, Emre Yüksel, Serdar Öktem, Erdem Karadeniz, Alper Atay, Mustafa Ensar Aykal for the crime of "premeditated murder by acting in concert and collectively against the victim as an accomplice to the crime committed in concert."

News Source: 12punto