12punto followed it minute by minute... Sinan Ateş trial adjourned: Which defendant said what?

Turkey's highly anticipated Sinan Ateş trial has concluded its first session. The trial will continue tomorrow starting at 09:00. While it was expected that all defendants would testify and the trial would last until Friday, the Presiding Judge stated that if the hearing continues at this pace, it could conclude earlier.

Journalist and 12punto.com.tr columnist Müyesser Yıldız reported the developments in the trial minute by minute.

When Ayşe Ateş's lawyer began to ask questions regarding the owner of the parking lot where they parked the vehicle for Gelenbey, stating that the owner had sent a message to an acquaintance saying, "They went to Ankara for an operation," the Presiding Judge intervened and said the following:

"There is an order to questioning, Counsel. Since you asked, let me ask. If the parking lot owner can say such a thing, he must know something. Didn't you know why Eray went?"

16:30 The first session of the hearing has been completed. The trial will continue tomorrow morning at 09:00.. 

'TORTURE' ALLEGATION

16:24 Aşkın Mert Gelenbey, one of the police officers who came to Ankara with Eray Özyağcı, stated that he was a childhood friend of Özyağcı and that he had mentioned he was going to Ankara,and that he had asked for a ride. "You come too, you'll see your brother." He explained that he came after being told. The presiding judge asked,"Didn't Eray Özyağcı tell you he was wanted?" he asked.

Gelenbey replied,"If I had known, I would have handed him over to the public security teams." he responded.

Gelenbey, regarding his previous statements, "I was subjected to torture that wasn't even inflicted on PKK members." he said, rejecting the charges.

16:09 Hakan Saraç, who mediated for the hitman and his friends to stay at Zekeriya Asarkaya's house, Hakan Saraç also offered his condolences to Ayşe Ateş and wished mercy upon Sinan Ateş, saying, "If I have any involvement, I am the biggest scoundrel in the world" he stated.

16:06 Of the 6 defendants who have presented their defense so far, only Zekeriya Asarkaya, wished God's mercy upon Sinan Ateş and offered his condolences to his family and loved ones.

Asarkaya, who is the owner of the house where the defendants who came to Ankara for the assassination stayed, "I don't understand how I am involved in this. I feel like I'm in a dream." he said.

16:05 Stating that he is a friend and lawyer of Sinan Ateş, Ali Yücel also asked Demirbaş, "Why did you investigate me? Were you going to hang a banner at my house too?" he asked.

Demirbaş "Good question. Your license plate came to me, I asked about it. I don't know why it was requested. You can ask the person who requested it." replied.

15:08 Regarding the question of whether he gathered information about Ayşe Ateş, Demirbaş replied, "None of our friends, no idealist (Ülkücü) has any business with women or children." he said.

AYHAN BORA KAPLAN DETAIL

15:05 Demirbaş gave the following answer to the question of where he was captured:

"We were going to spend New Year's Eve at my sister's house in Bağlıca. I went to the market to pick up some missing items. Suddenly, police surrounded me. The officer who took me into custody was Kerem Gökay Ener, whose name is mentioned in the Bora Kaplan case."

"Among those police officers was Commissioner Mustafa Emre Aykan. How am I supposed to be an accomplice with that commissioner here now?"

14:58 Tolgahan Demirbaş, in response to questions from some defense attorneys, stated that he never used the phrase regarding Sinan Ateş, "His death warrant has been signed." he said.

14:50 When answering the question of whether he had a request for release, Tolgahan Demirbaş said,"I am not as much of a victim as the victim's children; but my child and my family are victims. Of course, I am requesting release." he said.

14:48 When the presiding judge asked why he had researched Sinan Ateş's flight information, Tolgahan Demirbaş explained the following:

"I handed over my mobile phone to the police with its password to show that I had no connection to the incident. That information belongs to an event that took place 8 months ago; it has no connection or link to this incident."

"An unfortunate event occurred 8 months ago, and there was a reaction and hatred within the community. Work had been done regarding hanging a protest banner at his location."

"I did not send the victim's flight information to anyone. I did not go to the airport. I did not receive information from any public official. Our country is not a tribal state."

14:36 Denying all accusations against him, Demirbaş claimed that he was not here for inciting anyone, but rather due to public pressure and a perception operation intended to cast suspicion on a community.

14:35 The afternoon session of the hearing began with the defense of the other defendant, who is alleged to have organized the assassination, former Idealist Hearths (Ülkü Ocakları) executive Tolgahan Demirbaş.

14:23 Before the afternoon session of the hearing began, a defendant, "İsmail Saymaz" after shouting, "You act as a spokesperson for terrorists." reacted to Saymaz with his words.

The hearing was adjourned until 14:15.

13:29 One of the plaintiff's lawyers asked, "You explain that you resolve other people's debt issues. So, in the Sinan Ateş matter where you claim you were owed money, why didn't you go yourself instead of sending a hitman?" Doğukan Çep's response to the question:

"He is not a hitman, brother. My trigger finger works well too. I could have gone myself. I have killed many PKK and MLKP members." (Ersin Eroğlu)

13:26 Another plaintiff's attorney, reminded that Eray Özyağcısaid in a statement he gave during a detention review, "I praise God for granting me the opportunity to shoot such a treacherous person" and asked about it.

Doğukan Çep's response was, "I got angry, I yelled, what is this? I told him to change it" .

Another lawyer for the plaintiff also asked, "How was Sinan Ateş going to handle your case that was upheld by the Court of Cassation?" Doğukan Çep claimed that he had a second right.

It was noteworthy that Çep interrupted the same lawyer's question, which began with,"In the statement given to the prosecutor..." and said,"Which prosecutor? Durdu Özel, Durmuş Ali Kaya." he said.

13:03 While responding to a question from a plaintiff's attorney regarding the phone number he used to communicate with Sinan Ateş, Doğukan Çep said, "Whoever smuggled the weapons also smuggled the phone" he stated.

12:44 Çep did not request his release and claimed that he was shot in the abdomen by a bullet fired by Selman Bozkurt, who was with Sinan Ateş.

12:33 Doğukan Çep, due to his publications regarding the assassination, While reacting to Sözcü newspaper and Halktv,he repeated, "There is no such thing as an assassination like this." 12.32

Doğukan Çep added, "A man who comes to commit an assassination does not shoot at the feet; he comes from behind and I would shoot him in the back. And no one would see."The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.The court session concluded.

12:23 "When I couldn't get my money, I said, 'I will shoot him in the legs.' Eray was with me, and he said, 'I'll do it.' If I had sent him to kill, I would say, 'I sent him to kill.' I have no fear of anyone but God. I am sad that he died. I wouldn't have wanted that. I don't even know how he died."

12:22 Claiming that he had him shot because he could not collect a debt from Sinan Ateş, Çep spoke as follows:

12:15 Upon the presiding judge's question, Çep stated that he was the one who incited the murder.

12:12 When Çep replied, "I am explaining what I went through." the Presiding Judge shouted, "That does not concern us, do not tell stories." in response.

12:03 When Çep began to describe how many people he had shot during the Gezi protests in his defense, the Presiding Judge said, "What are you talking about?" he said.

'I AM HERE' POST FROM KILIÇDAROĞLU

Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, in a social media post responding to the words of Doğukan Çep, the instigator of the Sinan Ateş murder, who asked 'Where is Mr. Kemal', said "I am here" and stated the following: 

"I am here! I am looking into the eyes of the murderers and your masters behind you in the courtroom!"

'I FOUND MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MURDER'

12:10 Defendant Suat Kurt, stating that he did not accept the murder charge, “I only helped a brother of Doğukan Çep. I do not know Özyağcı and Balkaya. He said that he would be beaten by Doğukan and that his leg would be injured in a very difficult situation. I helped at the request of Doğukan Çep. Whether he would be beaten, broken, or injured was not my concern. I could not have imagined that such a thing would happen. If I had known about the incident, I would not have registered at the hotel with my ID, nor would I have exposed myself so much to the surveillance cameras. I would not have walked around without a hood. If I had known this was a murder, I would not have gotten on the bus; I would have fled by taxi,” he stated in his defense. Saying that he left the area by bus on the day of the incident and heard gunshots, Kurt added, “I was saddened when I saw the deceased; I have a conscience. When I saw it, I called Doğukan. I said, ‘The man is dead,’ and Doğukan said, ‘Unfortunately, brother.’ I did not make any demands. I found myself in the middle of a murder. I request my release.” he said.

11:52 During the hearing, Suat Kurt's defense continued, Doğukan Çeplooked at the section where journalists were sitting for a long time and shook his head as if threatening them. (Alican Uludağ)

The hearing was adjourned until 11:20.

"WE WILL NOT LET THIS MATTER GO"

11:00 CHP leader Özgür Özel made the following statement after the break in the hearing:

"Today, we came to the courtroom to witness the quest for justice of Ayşe Ateş, a wife who has been waiting for justice for up to 18 months, and the father of two daughters, who has informed all of us since the very beginning of this trial process, and the family of Sinan Ateş.

Sinan Ateş is the former chairman of the Ülkü Ocakları (Idealist Hearths). A murder was committed in Ankara, in the capital, right before our eyes.

The instigators, the less famous ones, are known; those who contributed to the murder are known. The indictment was cut off where the matter was leading. 

We are facing a trial being conducted with a half-baked, stunted, and incomplete indictment." 

There is nothing to worry about regarding the order of the trial.  

It is very clear, it is very evident; from the very first testimonies, we are facing hitmen who are fulfilling a new task assigned to them, saying things like 'I misspoke, I don't remember that'.

We saw a high-level effort to sever the connection with the main instigators. We will not let this matter go.

As long as the trial continues, at least two Deputy Chairmen from the CHP will follow it. I will also follow it whenever I find the opportunity.

Those who try to leave that funeral there and pull down a curtain of fog are being protected and shielded by someone, but former deputies and various officials who should have been mentioned in the indictment, and officials who had phone contact, are not mentioned.

We will not stand by and watch this fog descend, or this murder remain as an ordinary murder. When the day comes, if no one says the king is naked, we will say it."

10:55 Defendant Vedat Balkaya, stating that his previous testimonies were not true stated the following:

"As far as I knew, it was a debt-credit issue. It was not mentioned to me that a man would be shot. If I had known that a man would be shot or killed, as someone who had just been released from prison, I would not have gotten involved in this. I went to Istanbul after the incident. The Kocaeli Police took me into custody. I was taken to a wooded area and tortured. The torture continued at the Ankara Police Department as well. I learned the truth about this matter at the Kocaeli Police Department. I did not know that someone was going to be shot." 

Balkaya claimed that his statements in the indictment were distorted by the police and stated that his testimony in court was the truth.

10:10 Regarding the Presiding Judge's question to Özyağcı, "Do you have a request for release?" Özyağcı replied, "No, sir." he replied by saying. 

In his testimony, Özyağcı "The police chief told me, 'Since you planned it, come and tell us so it's over,' stating that he said, and added the following: 

"I also made up a story so as not to betray my brother. I signed it without reading. I entered the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor said, 'Don't tell us stories, we think this matter is political. If you received instructions from Devlet Bey, tell us and don't make us struggle.' He said, 'Give us the names of two people from the MHP and we will save you from this file; as the chief prosecutor, I will protect you both inside and outside.'

Özyağcı further added, "They showed me photos, I said I don't know. They said to me, 'Who are you trusting? A lot will change after the election. I am the penman of this case. I will ensure you receive the heaviest sentence.' said. 

09:56 In his testimony at the first hearing of the Sinan Ateş trial, the alleged shooter Eray Özyağcı stated in court that until now Doğukan Çephe had made up stories in his statements to protect him, and that he had told untruths so as not to betray Çep. Eray Özyağcı claimed that he had only shot at Sinan Ateş's feet, and that two people following him had fired to kill Sinan Ateş. He said he was surprised and called Doğukan Çep, saying, "let there be no foul play in this matter" he said (Nevşin Mengü)

09:35 The MHP's request to join the case was unanimously rejected on the grounds that they were "not harmed by the crime." Applause erupted in the courtroom following the decision.

09:32 MHP lawyers submitted a request to join the case.

09:24 CHP leader Özgür Özel, former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and Sinan Ateş's wife Ayşe Ateş shared a photo from the courtroom.

Özel, "We are following the assassination trial of former Idealist Hearths (Ülkü Ocakları) President Sinan Ateş in Sincan. We will continue to follow this case until justice is served and the veil of secrecy over the assassination is lifted. We said we would be by her side, and we will remain by Ayşe Hanım's side until she says that justice has been served..." said.

09.19 The instigator of the Sinan Ateş murder Doğukan Çep, 'Where is Mr. Kemal' he shouted. He was removed from the courtroom by the gendarmerie. He was brought back into the courtroom at the request of the presiding judge. (Timur Soykan)

09:00 Those who came to the Sinan Ateş trial hearing CHP leader Özgür Özel and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, sat next to Ayşe Ateş. The start of the hearing is awaited. 

According to what was reported by İsmail Saymaz from Halk TV; Ayşe Ateş He arrived at the hearing with 5 police bodyguards and a bulletproof vest! 

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

The Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court had filed a case against only 22 detained defendants on April 26 and accepted the indictment on May 7.

Among the 22 detained defendants to be tried are former Ülkü Ocakları executives Tolgahan Demirbaş, Emre Yüksel, and Serdar Öktem. are also included.

In the indictment, the hitman Eray Özyağcı and those who brought him to the scene and helped him escape Vedat Balkaya and Suat Kurt regarding "premeditated intentional murder" are facing life imprisonment with no possibility of parole

For the defendants who are alleged to have ''organized the armed action'' Doğukan Çep and suspect former Ülkü Ocakları executive Tolgahan Demirbaşare facing'aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of 'premeditated murder of the victim collectively and in complicity as an instigator''.

Among the defendants are Zekeriya Asarlaya, Hakan Saraç, Ufuk Köktürk, Mehmet Yüce, Mustafa Uzunlar, Aşkın Mert Gelenbey, Murat Can Çolak, Osman Bayraktar, Caner Güney, Umut Ersoy, Çağlar Zorlu, Aytaç Ataç, Emre Yüksel, Serdar Öktem, Erdem Karadeniz, Alper Atay, Mustafa Ensar As for Aykal, "as a perpetrator who aided in a crime committed in participation, for the premeditated intentional murder of the victim collectively and in participation" a prison sentence is being sought for the crime.

FILES OF 17 PEOPLE SEPARATED

The investigation into the other 17 of the 39 people against whom proceedings were initiated, who have been issued a travel ban, will continue under a separate file.

Among these individuals are Ülkü Ocakları Chairman Ahmet Yiğit Yıldırım and Ülkü Ocakları Ankara Provincial Chairman Ömer Şanlı, Ülkü Ocakları Deputy Chairman Burak Kılıç and Ülkü Ocakları Ankara Provincial Deputy Chairman Suat Yılmazzobu, former Çubuk Ülkü Ocakları Chairman Gürsel Horat, Talha Atalay, who serves as a commissioner at the Ankara Police Department, and former MHP Mersin Deputy and former Ülkü Ocakları Chairman Olcay Kılavuz are included.

WHO ATTENDED THE TRIAL?

The hearing today was attended by the detained defendants and their lawyers, as well as the complainant in the case, Selman Bozkurt and Sinan Ateş's wife, Ayşe Ateş, also participated.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Homeland Party Chairman Muharrem İnce, Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu, and Sinan Oğan were present in the courtroom.

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçelihad announced that only lawyers from his party would attend the hearing.

Due to the hearing, intensive security measures will be taken around and inside the prison.

'THEATER OF A FRAME-UP'

In her latest post, Sinan Ateş's wife, Ayşe Ateş, stated the following:

'The theater of a frame-up, which has been put forward for days by MHP Central Executive Committee members, Ülkü Ocakları executives, hired pens, and troll accounts, and which does not match the evidence in the file, and which was exhibited in total today in the courtroom with statements by the detainees that overlap one-to-one with these claims... It is understood that the roots of this political murder are deeper than we thought.'

We knew they wanted to muddy the clear water, gain time, and manufacture victimhood. But we do not yet fully know what they are trying to hide, or whom they are striving to protect. 

Therefore, our only wish is that no barriers be placed before the judiciary, that the investigation into the 17 people be deepened and completed as soon as possible, and that this political murder be pursued wherever it leads. 

We are in Sincan. We believe that we will learn all the facts as a result of a fair trial, and we are waiting for justice to be served.

We reiterate that we have no tolerance for another day spent without justice.'