Testimony of defendant who stabbed his wife's uncle to death revealed

The incident occurred on the evening of December 19, 2025, in front of the Zonguldak Governor's Office. An argument between Serkan Akdal (44) and his niece's husband, Murat D. (44), escalated into a fight. Serkan Akdal, who was seriously injured by knife wounds inflicted by Murat D., lost his life at the hospital where he was taken. The suspect, who fled the scene and was captured shortly after, was arrested and sent to prison. The first hearing held at the Zonguldak 3rd High Criminal Court was attended by the detained defendant Murat D., the victim Serkan Akdal's mother Şirvan Akdal, the victim's minor nephews B.A. (14) and Y.T. (14), who participated via SEGBİS, as well as witnesses and lawyers for both parties.

In his defense in court, the defendant Murat D. argued that he did not commit the murder intentionally and that the victim had insulted him, saying, "One month before the incident, we sat down to chat. Under the influence of alcohol, he cursed at me. He sent voice messages to my wife. I told him that she was his own niece and that he shouldn't curse. 20-25 days passed, and I saw him on the day of the incident. He started cursing at me again. He provoked me by saying, 'We'll see, son.' I left there. A little further on, I met my friend, and we went to the beach area and drank alcohol. I saw Serkan's call on my phone. I called him back and said, 'What's the problem?' He cursed again. I asked him if he was cursing at his own niece. My intention was that if I reminded him that she was his niece, maybe he would stop cursing. However, he continued to curse," he said.

"He hit me with an iron rod, I swung randomly"

Stating that the victim came to him after the phone call, Murat D. said, "He told me, 'Wait, I'm coming to kill you.' I left the beach and was just going up the ramp when I was called again. When he called me, he said, 'I've arrived, son, I'm coming to kill you.' I felt anxious. I took the knife out of my pocket. I thought he would get scared and run away when he saw the knife. I looked up. There was a distance of 2-3 meters between us. I raised my hands and shouted, 'Serkan, don't come.' He attacked me with an iron rod. He hit my right shoulder with the iron rod. With that reflex, I swung the knife randomly so he would move away from me. I had no intention to kill. I intervened to save my life until the last moment. I made a move. If I had a different intention, I would have continued my action. Thinking the victim was not seriously injured, I wanted to get in a taxi and go home. I told my wife what happened at the door on the stairs. I said I would surrender to the police. At that moment, I lost myself," he said.

"While I was grieving over my past experiences, this incident became a burden on me"

Stating that he did not know the fate of the knife he used in the incident and that he lost himself in the shock of the event, Murat D. said, "Later, I went to Fener to clear my head, and my intention was to go to the police station. I don't know what I did with the knife. I am an epilepsy patient. I saw the police cars. I thought they were looking for me. I went to the police and told them about the incident there. While I was living with the regret and sorrow of what I had experienced in the past, this incident became a burden on me. I share the pain of Serkan's family. I had no intention to kill. I thought he would see the knife and be deterred and leave. I feel great sorrow over the incident," he said.

He told the person on the phone, "Don't ruin my mood"

Serkan Akdal's mother, Şirvan Akdal, stated that she was a complainant against the defendant and said, "On the day of the incident, I called my son on the phone. My son said he was eating roasted meat with his nephews and that they would be home in half an hour. However, he did not come home. Around 21:00, I learned that there was an incident between them. I received the news of my son's death at the hospital. I am a complainant," she said.

Y.T., who participated in the hearing via SEGBİS, explained that while they were eating with his uncle Serkan Akdal, his phone rang and his uncle reacted to the person on the other end of the line by saying, "Don't ruin my mood, who are you killing?" Y.T. said, "My uncle said, 'Defend yourselves. Don't do anything to anyone unless something happens to me.' They met with Murat. When he saw the knife, my uncle went towards him. When my uncle was stabbed, he crossed to the opposite sidewalk. Then Murat D. swung the knife at my other cousin, B.A. Then we left and ran to my uncle. I am a complainant against the defendant," he said.

In the hearing, besides the other witness Selim N., Murat D.'s wife Zehra D. and Serkan Akdal's minor son S.A. (16) also testified. Audio recordings were played during the hearing. Camera footage regarding the incident was watched. In the images reflected on the KGYS (City Security Management System) cameras, it was seen that Murat D. was walking in front and his friend Selim N. was following behind; the defendant stopped after a while and adjusted his knife. The images showed Murat D., whom Serkan Akdal went towards, raising the knife into the air. The camera footage included Murat D. receiving a blow to his shoulder with an iron rod and Akdal being stabbed during the ensuing struggle.

The presiding judge decided to continue the defendant's detention, and the hearing was adjourned to a later date for the Public Prosecutor to prepare their opinion.