Uncle arrested in Leyla Aydemir case in Ağrı

A new development has occurred in the case opened regarding the death of Leyla Aydemir, whose disappearance in the city of Ağrı in 2018 caused a major public outcry. Following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision, seven defendants, including Aydemir's relatives, appeared before the judge once again. Reasserting their defenses during the hearing, the defendants claimed they were innocent and requested acquittal.

The family's lawyer, Erdoğan Tunç, stated, "We have nothing to add regarding the witness statements that were read and heard. As of the current stage of the file, we see that all documents indicating that the crimes attributed to the defendants were committed have become even clearer. There is a suspicion of flight due to the defendants' connections abroad. Furthermore, we request their arrest, taking into account the possibility that the defendants and their relatives may influence other defendants and suspects. We would like to note that the plaintiff mother, Şükran Aydemir, could not attend the hearing because she lives in Canada. For this reason, we request that the next hearing be conducted through the Canadian Consulate."

While defendants Ayşe Artam and Yıldırım Artam stated they were innocent and requested acquittal, another defendant, Besim Dursun, claimed they had been victimized during the trial process. Mehmet Ali Aydemir said, "I am innocent. We have been on trial for 8 years. I have no connection to this incident. I request my acquittal." Musa Aydemir also stated that he had been unjustly victimized and requested his acquittal. Hatun Dursun said she was filing a complaint against those who testified against her.

The presiding judge asked Yusuf Aydemir, "Your phone's internet was turned off from the day Leyla went missing until she was found. You said you used a push-button phone, but there are photos showing you with a smartphone. Did you have a problem with your brother Nihat Aydemir? Everyone except you says there was a problem between you." Yusuf Aydemir replied, "I have no guilt or sin, I want my acquittal. I have been slandered. I wish the killer had been found. The fact that my phone's internet was off might be because my data had run out. We came to the center of Ağrı with the gendarmerie. The reason I went up there with a tractor was that I had heard Leyla was found somewhere else. That is why I went there. Later, I came back to the place where Leyla was found. There is no hostility between me and Nihat Aydemir. There is no one I suspect; if there were, I would have said so. My brother Nihat Aydemir got married about 25 years ago. It was not an official marriage. They did not get along. After the birth, they sent the baby away. The baby was not breastfed, she was given formula. She got sick and passed away. At that time, such situations were not reported to the state. She was buried without notification."

The court decided to re-examine witness Ahmer Erdoğan at a future hearing. Within the framework of the evaluated evidence and existing suspicions, it was ordered that Leyla's uncle, Yusuf Aydemir, be arrested for the crime of 'murder'.

It was decided that the trial would proceed on February 12, 2026, and March 10, 2026, and that the next session of the case would continue on April 10, 2026.

News Source: 12punto