'You slapped my daughter' argument ended in murder: Life sentence for father, prison for daughter

The incident occurred on July 30, 2025, at approximately 22:00 in the vicinity of the carpet pitches on İnönü Street in the Kayacık neighborhood of Karamürsel. Uğur Deniz (35), who was walking on the beach with his wife, encountered Ersin K., with whom he had previously had a fight. Ersin K. pulled out a knife he was carrying and stabbed Uğur Deniz in front of his wife's eyes. While Uğur Deniz, who was seriously injured, lost his life at the hospital where he was taken, Ersin K. and his 15-year-old daughter B.K. were arrested and sent to prison. It was learned that about 15 days before the incident, Ersin K. had slapped his daughter B.K. on the street for coming home late, and Uğur Deniz had intervened in the ensuing argument after a woman passing by reacted to the situation. In his statement, Ersin K. said that Deniz had cursed at him and beaten him in front of his children, and that he committed the murder after seeing the victim in the same area weeks later.

Prison requested for father and daughter

The hearing held at the Kocaeli 8th High Criminal Court was attended by the detained defendants Ersin K. and his 15-year-old daughter B.K., as well as the lawyers for the parties. Presenting his opinion at the hearing, the public prosecutor requested that the defendant Ersin K. be sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional killing," that his daughter B.K. be punished for the crime of "aiding," and that their other 12-year-old daughter, N.D., who was mentioned in the incident, be acquitted.

"The father and daughter carried out the act with premeditation and shared intent"

The lawyer for the family of the victim Uğur Deniz argued that the act was committed with premeditation, stating, "The defendant followed the victim for 15 days and planned the act. The knife entered under the victim's armpit and pierced his heart. This knife was carefully chosen. The defendant planned this in his mind. In our opinion, the act was premeditated; therefore, I request that he be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. It was requested that his daughter B.K. be punished for aiding. B.K. told her father that it was the same person he had fought with when she saw Deniz. She knew that her father was not sober on the night of the first incident. We request that B.K. be tried as a principal perpetrator for the crime of incitement. The father and daughter carried out the act with premeditation and shared intent," he said.

"Release my daughter, I do not want my own release"

Asked for his final words before the verdict, defendant Ersin K. stated that his daughter was innocent, saying, "I do not want my daughter to be punished; I want her to be released. As for me, I do not want my release." Defendant B.K. denied the accusations against her and requested her release.

Life sentence for father, 5 years and 6 months in prison for daughter

The court panel ruled that defendant Ersin K. be sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional killing." The panel sentenced his daughter B.K. to 5 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of "aiding" and ordered her release, while deciding to acquit 12-year-old N.D.