Verdict reached in the Sedef Güler murder case

NEWS AND IMAGES: TANER SARAÇ

The verdict has been announced in the trial regarding the murder of 24-year-old Sedef Güler in Istanbul's Büyükçekmece district.

The hearing, held at the Bakırköy 4th High Criminal Court, was attended by mother Gülizar Sezer as well as numerous representatives of women's organizations.

The court panel sentenced defendant Yavuz Güngör to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional killing." Defendant Fırat Baykara was sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison for "aiding in qualified intentional killing" and "concealing evidence of a crime."

It was decided that the trial of defendant Yiğit Hüseyin Ayvalık will continue and that an arrest warrant be issued for him.

PROSECUTOR HAD DEMANDED AGGRAVATED LIFE SENTENCES FOR BOTH DEFENDANTS

In his final opinion, the public prosecutor had requested that both Yavuz Güngör and Fırat Baykara be sentenced to separate aggravated life imprisonment terms.

The hearing was attended by the lawyers of the parties, lawyers from the Ministry of Family and Social Services, Sedef Güler's relatives, and defendants Yiğit Hüseyin Ayvalık and Fırat Baykara. Detained defendant Yavuz Güngör joined the hearing via SEGBİS. Numerous lawyers, representatives of women's organizations, and political party representatives were also present in the courtroom.

Political party representatives, non-governmental organizations, and grieving families did not leave the Güler family alone on this critical day.

PHYSICAL INADEQUACY DREW REACTION

The fact that the trial was held in the smallest courtroom of the courthouse and that only 10 people were allowed inside caused a major backlash from the crowd that flocked to the courthouse to show support. Many people who could not enter continue to wait in front of the courtroom.

Among those present at the courthouse to support the Güler family were officials from the İYİ Party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), and the Victory Party (Zafer Partisi), as well as various non-governmental organizations and women's groups. One of the names closely following the hearing was Lawyer Tuğçe Naz Mete, who observed the case in her capacity as the İYİ Party Istanbul Head of Legal Affairs.

DEFENDANTS' STATEMENTS TENSIONED THE ROOM

Tensions rose from time to time during the verdict hearing. The fact that the defendants resorted to statements blaming the murdered Sedef Güler and her grieving family during their defense created great tension in the room. Due to this situation, the court panel had to take a short break from the hearing.

JUSTICE SOLIDARITY OF GRIEVING FAMILIES

Among those who did not leave the Güler family alone on this difficult day was Halime Pilgir, who has experienced a similar tragedy.

Pilgir's sister, Metiye Akyel, was murdered by her husband in Siirt on October 18, 2024, and the murder in question was brought to light by television programmer Müge Anlı.

Halime Pilgir, who is still trying to reach the body of her murdered sister and is fighting a legal battle for the defendants to receive the heaviest sentences in the case being heard in Siirt, showed an example of solidarity in the Sedef Güler case and supported the call for justice.

DEFENDANTS DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS

Taking the floor at the hearing, the defendants and their lawyers made their defense, stating that they did not accept the accusations.

Fırat Baykara's lawyer claimed that his client did not participate in the act of killing. Recalling Baykara's statement, "If I had known she was dead, I would not have gone there," the lawyer argued that public pressure had formed on the file. In the defense, it was requested that Baykara be evaluated within the scope of Article 281 of the Turkish Penal Code and that his release be decided, taking into account the time he remained in detention.

Yavuz Güngör said in his defense, "When I woke up in the morning, Sedef was dead. Sedef became a victim of her own life. I spent 17 years in prison, and I tried to escape because of this incident so as not to go back to prison. I regret everything I did."

Güngör's lawyer also argued that there was insufficient evidence in the file regarding the crime of intentional killing. While claiming that Sedef Güler came to the house of her own free will, the lawyer argued that the legal classification of the crime was evaluated incorrectly and requested that the evaluation be made only within the scope of accusations "aimed at disposing of the body."

Yiğit Hüseyin Ayvalık also did not accept the murder charges and requested his release.

Sedef Güler was called to the house in Beylikdüzü for a job interview by Yavuz Güngör's daughter, H.Y.G., on June 4, 2024.

According to the defendants' claims, an argument broke out between Güler and H.Y.G. there. It was stated that later, Güler and Güngör moved to another house rented by Fırat Baykara.

Güler's lifeless body, from whom her family had not heard for days, was found on the Mimar Sinan Coast in Büyükçekmece on June 7, 2024. It was determined that Güler's body was wrapped in a carpet and a weight was tied to her feet.

Following the incident, Fırat Baykara was arrested. Yavuz Güngör, who was determined to have fled to Greece, was detained in Istanbul after being sent back and was arrested.

It was also determined that there was a previously finalized 8-year and 4-month prison sentence against Güngör.

News Source: 12punto