Hotel owner's imprisoned wife: I could barely put in my contact lenses

The hearing, held in a specially prepared hall at the Bolu Social Sciences High School sports complex by the Bolu 1st High Criminal Court, was attended by imprisoned and non-imprisoned defendants, those injured in the fire, relatives of those who lost their lives, and legal counsel for both sides. On the third day of the trial, Emine Murtezaoğlu Ergül, a board member of Grand Kartal A.Ş. who provided her defense as the 22nd defendant, stated, "During the fire, I could barely put in my contact lenses."

"DURING THE FIRE, I COULD BARELY PUT IN MY CONTACT LENSES"

Stating that she has a 25 percent visual impairment from birth, the imprisoned defendant Emine Murtezaoğlu Ergül, who is the wife of the hotel owner and a board member of the company, said, "We were there on the night of the incident and survived by chance. During the fire, I could barely put in my contact lenses. I was in a state of complete shock. I opened the door but could not get out into the hallway. I walked about two rooms' distance and turned back. Nothing was visible due to the smoke. Soot was getting into my eyes. When I looked out the window, there was a crowd. They were rescuing people on the 6th and 7th floors with high ladders, and then it was my turn, and they rescued me too. I asked people for help to assist those staying at the hotel. I was helpless; there was nothing to be done," she stated.

"DOCUMENTS COME BEFORE ME AND I SIGN THEM, I CAN'T READ MOST OF THEM ANYWAY"

Claiming that her daughters only came for vacations and that she signed the documents placed before her without reading them, Ergül said, "Our company is a family business; documents would arrive and I would sign them. My daughters only came during holidays. Documents come before me and I sign them; I can't read most of them anyway. I don't know if there was a fire team or an occupational safety expert at the hotel. I only know the head chef; he is one of the oldest employees."

Following the defendant's defense, the hearing is continuing with cross-examination.

News Source: İHA