Appeals process closed in Zehra Kınık case: Conviction upheld
The Istanbul Anatolian 8th High Criminal Court had sentenced Fatıma Zehra Kınık Demir to 4 years and 2 months in prison on May 26, 2025, and suspended her driver's license for 2 years, despite her causing the death of 17-year-old Batın Barlasçeki and injuring 3 others, without her spending a single day in custody.
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Following the initial ruling being overturned by the appellate court after some complaints were withdrawn, the same court handed down a 2-year-and-6-month prison sentence on December 18, 2025, ruled that Kınık's travel ban remain in effect, and reduced the suspension of her driver's license to 1 year.
The decision was taken to the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice 19th Criminal Chamber by both Kınık's lawyer and Uysal Uğurlu, the lawyer for Batın Barlasçeki's mother, Hasret Doğan. However, during this process, Hasret Doğan withdrew her complaint, stating that her material and moral losses had been compensated.
APPELLATE COURT REJECTS APPEALS, KINIK'S CONVICTION UPHELD
The Criminal Chamber rejected the appeal filed by the defendant's counsel, stating that "based on the trial conducted, the evidence collected and presented in the decision, the court's opinion and discretion formed in accordance with the results of the prosecution, and the content of the examined file, it is understood that there is no procedural or substantive illegality in the court's decision, there is no deficiency in the evidence or proceedings, the evaluation in terms of proof is appropriate, the act was correctly classified and conforms to the type of crime provided for in the law, and the sentence was applied within the legal context," and therefore did not find the reasons put forward by the defendant's counsel to be valid.
In its review regarding the request of Hasret Doğan's lawyer, Uysal Uğurlu, the Chamber recalled that Doğan had declared she was withdrawing her appeal, stating that all her material and moral damages had been compensated, and also rejected the "appeal application made by the intervening party's attorney against the decision." The Criminal Chamber unanimously decided that a copy of the decision be sent to the Regional Court of Justice Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and that a copy be served by the court to the party who filed the appeal.
Lawyer Uysal Uğurlu stated that with this appellate decision, the case has become final regarding Zehra Kınık, that converting the sentence into a fine is not in question, that she will enter prison for the duration to be calculated within the framework of the execution law, and that he expects Hasret Doğan, who had the right to appeal the appellate decision, will not use this right as she has withdrawn her complaint.