Sentence reduction for 'good conduct' in Antalya femicide case sparks controversy

In Antalya, Savaş Temirhanoğulları, who murdered his wife Fadim Temirhanoğulları while they were in the process of divorcing, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment by the court. However, the court applied a 'good conduct' reduction to the defendant's sentence, commuting it to life imprisonment. This decision caused the victim's mother, Mediha Saçlı, to suffer a nervous breakdown. Saçlı expressed her reaction by saying, "They will celebrate holidays in prison; this sentence is like a reward."

DETAILS OF THE DAY OF THE MURDER

The incident occurred on September 12, 2024, in the Konyaaltı district. Fadim Temirhanoğulları was shot in her home in the morning by her husband, Savaş Temirhanoğulları, against whom she had obtained a restraining order. Although the couple's daughter, I.T., heard the gunshots, she continued to sleep, thinking she was having a nightmare. When she woke up in the morning and found her mother covered in blood, I.T. immediately asked neighbors for help. Medical teams arriving at the scene determined that Fadim Temirhanoğulları had lost her life.

APPREHENSION OF THE DEFENDANTS

Following the murder, Savaş Temirhanoğulları fled to the Korkuteli district with the help of his friend Fikret İnal. Police teams examined security cameras to locate the suspects and apprehended both defendants along with the weapon used in the crime.

COURT DECISION AND REACTIONS

In the trial held at the Antalya 1st High Criminal Court, Savaş Temirhanoğulları was tried for the crime of "premeditated murder of a spouse." While the court sentenced the defendant to aggravated life imprisonment, it applied a 'good conduct' reduction. Fikret İnal was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Defendant Temirhanoğulları was acquitted of the charges of 'insult' and 'threat' due to insufficient evidence.

Yağmur Burçin Sayın Kurt, a lawyer for the Women and Children First Association, reacted to the decision, stating, "We have once again seen that as women, we do not have safety of life. A good conduct reduction was applied to the defendant; we do not know the justification for this. We will continue our struggle by using all legal avenues." It was stated that the decision would be appealed.

News Source: 12punto