First day of the Narin Güran murder trial concludes: It lasted 14 hours

The highly anticipated trial for the murder of Narin Güran, who was reported missing on August 21 in the Tavşantepe neighborhood of Diyarbakır's Bağlar district and whose lifeless body was found 19 days later, has begun.

Narin's mother Yüksel Güran, her brother Enes Güran, her uncle Salim Güran, and the confessor Nevzat Bahtiyar, who hid the body in the creek, are appearing before the judge for the first time.

Out of the 23 suspects detained as part of the investigation conducted by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 12 have been arrested, including uncle Salim, mother Yüksel, brother Enes Güran, and their neighbor Nevzat Bahtiyar.

Uncle Salim Güran, mother Yüksel Güran, brother Enes Güran, and confessor Nevzat Bahtiyar, all of whom face life imprisonment with no possibility of parole, were brought into the courtroom.

According to reports by Emrullah Erdinç, Nevzat Bahtiyar entered the courtroom accompanied by two correctional officers. Salim Güran followed, wearing a black suit and a white shirt. The third person to arrive was Enes Güran. Mother Yüksel Güran entered the hall fourth, dressed entirely in black.

Nevzat Bahtiyar was seated on the left side of the courtroom, behind the members of parliament attending the trial. Salim, Enes, and Yüksel Güran are seated on the right.

Father Arif Güran attended the trial as a complainant. It was noted that because he is Narin's father, he is a complainant in this case, while he is a defendant in another case on charges of destroying evidence and shielding a criminal. 

ARIF GÜRAN WEPT DURING THE TRIAL

It was reported that the father, Arif Güran, cried after the hearing began. The brother, Baran Güran, was not accepted as a complainant because he is a witness.

The presiding judge "Since all of Turkey is waiting for this trial, we will not be able to give the floor to every bar association president. I want to give the defendants the right to speak as soon as possible" stated that they would not accept requests from lawyers not involved in the case file.

NEVZAT BAHTİYAR DISCLOSED HIS MONTHLY INCOME AND EXERCISED HIS RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT

Nevzat Bahtiyar approached the defendant's stand;

"I am literate. I am married. My monthly income is 60,000 TL"

The judge asked: "You are being tried for complicity in the murder of Narin"

Nevzat Bahtiyar: "I wish to exercise my right to remain silent. My last statement remains valid."

"NO ONE OFFERED ME ANYTHING TO ADMIT TO THE CRIME"

The judge read Nevzat Bahtiyar's statement and asked a question.

"Salim called me, and I went to him on foot. I went to the top of the house, I went to Arif Güran's barn.

There was no one else there. Only Salim and I were present. I did not see anyone else. Salim did not have his car with him."

(Arif Güran's sobbing interrupted the hearing; the judge paused to look at Arif Güran before continuing to ask questions)

Judge: Are you under any pressure?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I am not under duress. No one offered me anything to admit to the crime. No one came to see me in prison.

PROCEEDINGS MOVED TO NEVZAT BAHTİYAR'S SECOND STATEMENT TO THE PROSECUTOR

"Salim took me to Arif's house. Narin's body was in the second room. I did not hear any screaming in the house. There was no one there except for me and Salim. There was no one at Salim's house either. When I entered the room, I saw that Narin was dead. Salim threatened me, saying he would kill my child. I looked at Narin; there was foam coming out of her mouth."

"NARİN SAW US AND I KILLED HER"

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Uncle Salim Güran told me, 'Narin saw us while I was having sexual intercourse with her mother, so I killed her.'

Judge: I am asking based on the HTS records;

At 15:08 you are meeting with Salim

At 15:15 Narin arrives

If she was with you at 15:08 

How could he have had a relationship with Yüksel Güran? 

The timeline does not add up.

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I only saw Salim when he was watering the garden of my house, 10-15 minutes later as he was coming from above. When he entered the house with Salim, he just told me to 'get rid of Narin'.

Judge: There are missing parts, explain.

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Salim told me to throw it into the stream in pieces.

Judge: Have you done something like this before? Where does this cold-bloodedness come from?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I had to do it because he threatened me. He threatened me with a gun. He said, 'I will shoot your son Muhammed in the head and I will shoot you in the head.' I was afraid.

Judge: Did you see Enes and Yüksel in the house? 

Nevzat Bahtiyar: No, I did not see them. Salim went outside and brought a blanket. I was alone in the house; I didn't see anyone. Then, Salim and I wrapped her in the blanket. Afterward, we went to my car; no one saw us at that time. I put her in my red car. At that moment, I saw Yüksel from above; she was crying.

JUDGE ASKED ABOUT THE CONTRADICTION

Judge: What did Salim do after you wrapped her in the blanket?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: He also left by car 

Judge: I am asking again, when did you go to the barn?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I went to the barn to put her from the blanket into the sack. Salim did not plan it; it was my idea. I put her in the sack.

Judge: Was Narin wearing her clothes?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Yes, there was a black t-shirt and a bag.

Judge: There is DNA found in Salim's car. Was there any wetness on the blanket in his car?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't know, I don't remember.

JUDGE ORDERED ARİF GÜRAN TO BE REMOVED

As Nevzat Bahtiyar continued his testimony, the father, Arif Güran, became distressed. The judge ordered him to be removed from the courtroom. Arif Güran left the room crying, saying, "What did you want?"

"ONLY SALİM AND YÜKSEL KNEW THAT I CARRIED THE SACK THERE"

Judge: Why didn't you speak earlier?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I was afraid of Salim, so I didn't speak.

The judge asked Nevzat about Yüksel Güran again.

Nevzat Bahtiyar: When I placed Narin inside the house, our house was on high ground; I saw Yüksel on the hill, she was looking at me with her hands on her face. I never saw Enes.

Judge: Do you know how Narin died?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't know, she must have been strangled.

Judge: According to your account, Salim and Yüksel were involved; where does Enes fit into this?

Nevzat: He is not involved at all.

Judge: Salim told you to dismember her, why didn't you do it?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I couldn't do it.

Judge: Why did you place a stone?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: That's what I wanted.

Judge: Why did you place stones? Salim told you to throw it; if you had thrown it in the sack, the body would have been gone.

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I was afraid, that is why I did it. Only Salim and Yüksel knew that I carried the sack there.

Judge: What did you do after leaving the body?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I went to my sister-in-law's house.

Judge: You are very cold-blooded; you say you were afraid, yet you continued your life in a cold-blooded manner. This does not seem credible to me. Have you killed anyone before? You do not have to answer this.

Nevzat Bahtiyar: No, I have not killed anyone.

Judge: Then why did you go to buy cheese for your sister-in-law? You did not tell anyone until you made your confession, did you?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not tell anyone.

Judge: Then why did you speak up?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: My conscience.

"DO YOU HAVE A FEUD WITH THE GÜRAN FAMILY?"

Judge: Did you receive an offer from his brother, Ali Rıza Güran, to give you a field?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Yes, such an offer was made. My brother came and told me, but no one came to me directly to make an offer.

Judge: The Güran family says this: You gave Narin money to get her accustomed to you and then you killed her, is that true?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: It is not true.

Judge: In order for Narin to go home via the footpath, she had to pass in front of your house, is that correct?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: She can pass by my house, or she can pass another way.

Judge: Is there any hostility between you and the Güran family?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: No. The different statements I gave to the prosecutor's office were because I was afraid.

The trial prosecutor asks a question

Was the weapon with you between 15:27 and 15:35? All 4 of you appear side-by-side at the base station. Did he threaten you with a weapon in such a short time?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Yes, he threatened me at that time.

Judge: What was Salim wearing?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember

Judge: Was he naked?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember

Prosecutor: Salim Güran goes to where Narin's body is that night.

Nevzat: I don't know.

Prosecutor: You called Salim at 17:46. Why did you call?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not call.

Prosecutor: You called via WhatsApp

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not call

Judge: Did you go to buy cheese at that hour?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I bought cheese

Prosecutor: Did you carry a 25-kilo girl to the stream all by yourself?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I went alone.

Prosecutor: Where did you get the rope?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I found it there.

Prosecutor: How did you find it on the mountain?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I found it in Narin's bag.

NEVZAT ANSWERED 'I DON'T REMEMBER' TO ALMOST ALL QUESTIONS

Lawyers from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asked. 

Lawyers: How long have you known Salim? 

Nevzat Bahtiyar: For 30 years.

Lawyers: Have you ever been to Salim's house in all these years?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I went once.

Lawyers: Why did you suddenly enter a place you hadn't visited in all that time?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not ask 

Lawyers: Were there any other shoes in front of the house?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I do not remember.

Lawyers: Was Salim's car in front of the house?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember.

Lawyers: The vehicle is large, how did you not see it?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I didn't see it.

Lawyers: Was anyone else there?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not see anyone.

Lawyers: What was your reaction when you saw Narin's lifeless body?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I was scared.

Lawyers: What was the first thing you said to Salim when you saw Narin?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember.

Lawyers: Wouldn't you ask if this were normal life?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't know, I didn't think about it. I was in a panic and didn't think about anything.

Lawyers: When the presiding judge asked, you said Salim brought the blanket from outside. Did he go outside, or did someone inside the house give it to him?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember.

Lawyers: According to HTS records, you were inside the house at 15:26 and left at 15:35. Did all of this happen in such a short time? The blanket, the slippers, and putting Narin in the car?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember how many minutes it took.

Lawyers: Where was Narin's bag?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: It was around her neck.

Lawyers: Who wrapped her in the blanket?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did. I held one side and Salim wrapped it. We both left the house together. Salim saw the slippers in front of the door and said, "Take Narin's slippers too."

Lawyers: What was the blanket like, what color was it?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember. I slowly lowered her down from the gutter in my barn along with the blanket. Then, I put Narin in a sack in the barn and placed her in the car. I left the blanket outside.

Lawyers: What was the water level of the stream when you placed Narin there?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: There was water there. It was about 40 or 50 cm deep.

Lawyers: You stayed there for 38 minutes. If it took 4 minutes to go and come back, what were you doing there for 30 minutes?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not take off my clothes or shoes, I did not take care, I did not place brushwood. I don't know the time; I left and went to my sister-in-law Zeynep's house to buy cheese. I drank tea.

Lawyer: Didn't you enter the water?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not. There was 40-50 cm of water, but I did not enter the water.

Lawyer: You know that stream well, don't you? 

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Yes, I know.

Judge: Why did you decide to leave her there?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: It was a dirt path.

Lawyer: You were there for 38 minutes, as confirmed by evidence. When you were hiding Narin there, her leg was exposed; didn't you think at all that an animal might come?

"I LEAVE YOU TO GOD"

At that moment, Arif Güran shouted, "I leave you to God."

Nevzat Bahtiyar:  I don't know, I didn't think animals would eat her. I only left a stone. The only one who knew was Salim, and even Salim didn't know the exact spot.

Lawyer: Why did many members of the Güran family delete their records?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't know.

Lawyer: All the records deleted from Salim's phone have been recovered. Those records show that you called Salim at 17:46 and spoke for 41 seconds.

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember.

Lawyer:What did he say to you?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't remember.

Lawyer: Salim denies all of your allegations.

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't know.

Lawyer: Did you discuss this matter with your own daughter?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I did not.

Lawyer: Your family describes you as, "He is a spineless person; he does whatever Salim tells him to do."

Nevzat Bahtiyar:That is correct.

- According to your daughter's statement, 

Yüksel Güran said, 'At least leave my daughter at the door where you left her so she can have a grave,' while speaking toward your house. Are you aware of your daughter's statement?

Nevzat Bahtiyar:I do not know; I am not familiar with anyone's testimony in the file.

QUESTIONS FROM THE MINISTRY LAWYER TO NEVZAT

Ministry lawyer: Did you know about the relationship between Salim Güran and Yüksel Güran before?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: No, I did not.

Ministry lawyer: How did Narin see this incident?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't know.

Ministry lawyer: But did he tell you that he saw it during the act?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: I don't know.

DEFENSE LAWYERS QUESTIONED NEVZAT BAHTİYAR  

Defense lawyers: When you called Salim at 15:08, why did your wife say you left the house by vehicle?

Nevzat Bahtiyar: He did not see me.

Defense attorneys: How much do you fear Salim? 

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Salim and I are friends.

Defense attorneys: Why did your fear of Salim subside?  

Nevzat Bahtiyar: Once everything came to light, my fear also subsided.

ENES GÜRAN REMOVED FROM THE COURTROOM

Narin's brother, Enes Güran, was escorted out of the courtroom by four gendarmes for a break. 

As Enes Güran was leaving, he turned toward Nevzat Bahtiyar and said something, but it was unintelligible.

Yüksel Güran’s lawyer asks Nevzat Bahtiyar:  

- All of Turkey wants to know the truth; speak now. You were on the road at 15:11, even before Narin Güran reached home. Did you take Narin with you? 

- Nevzat Bahtiyar: No.

- According to the narrowed base station data, you should have seen Narin; did you not see her?

- No.

- Did you love Narin?

- Everyone loved Narin; children are meant to be loved.

- Did you love her?

- I mean, she was just a normal child.

- Did Narin have a problem with your grandchild?

- None.

- Did you ever give Narin any pocket money? 

- No.

Yüksel Güran's lawyer asks Nevzat Bahtiyar:  

- If you were afraid of Salim, why didn't you confess while Salim was arrested and in prison?

- I was going to remove Narin from there, I didn't have the opportunity.

The Presiding Judge intervened: Why were you going to remove Narin from there after Salim was arrested?

- Nevzat Bahtiyar: My conscience would not allow it.

- Judge: Did you know you would be caught?

- Yes, I knew I would be caught.

- Lawyer: Let's assume the base station records are correct. You took Narin's lifeless body. You said you saw Yüksel Güran. However, at that moment, Yüksel appears to be at home.

- I don't know, that's what I saw.

- Can you describe the moment of your arrest?

- I was sitting in a room at my son's house.

- Did they knock on the door when the Gendarmerie arrived?

- The door was already open.

- What did you do when you saw the Gendarmerie?

They asked my son for my name, and they took me in as well.

NEVZAT BAHTİYAR'S TESTIMONY HAS CONCLUDED 

Salim Güran's lawyer asks Nevzat Bahtiyar:  

- Has Salim threatened you before?

- I do not want to talk about this. 

- Is your family and your spouse's family large?

- We are 8 siblings.

- Where does your spouse's family live, the ones who are village guards?

- Battal… (the rest was inaudible)

- When you are threatened, do your spouse's brothers not help you?

- My own brothers come first.

- Have you ever tried to strangle someone before?

- No.

- Remember again, we have evidence. 

- No, I did not do it.

TESTIMONY OF ENES GÜRAN

Nevzat Bahtiyar's testimony has been completed.

Following Bahtiyar, the testimony of Enes Güran began. 

JUDGE APOLOGIZED TO ENES GÜRAN

The judge asked the brother, Enes Güran: 

Judge: 'Could Narin have seen your mother and uncle like that?'  

Enes Güran: Your Honor, that is my mother; it is very wrong for you to ask it that way.

Judge: You are right, I apologize. I am trying to uncover the truth.

ENES GÜRAN WAS ASKED HOW HE BIT HIS ARM

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asked, "How did you bite your arm? Can you show us?" After exposing his arm and demonstrating how he bit himself, Enes said, "I bit my arm hard, squeezed it here, and pressed it against the seat."

Former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren: You have given 6 statements, and all 6 of them contradict each other. When did law enforcement first make contact with you?  

Enes Güran: Was it the 3rd day or the 4th? That was when they asked me where I had been going.

Nahit Eren: When did they ask you 'Narin is missing'?

Enes Güran: At 16:30 at the latest.

Nahit Eren: Wouldn't a person take action?

Enes Güran: I had told them I started. It doesn't work to talk now.

Nahit Eren: We are here to say speak, speak, speak.

TORTURE ALLEGATIONS FROM ENES GÜRAN

Enes Güran asked his lawyer if there was any harm in mentioning the torture he allegedly experienced.  

The presiding judge then replied, "If you were subjected to torture by law enforcement, you can explain it." he said.

Enes Güran stated, "To be frank, I was tortured while being questioned about Salim Güran. What I said about Nevzat is true; he is the filthiest person in the village and he has a stutter."

Enes Güran told the presiding judge that his mother, Yüksel Güran, had been tortured, that the gendarmerie had shown him footage of this, that he is currently being held in solitary confinement, and that his family is unaware of this.

TRIAL ADJOURNED

The trial was adjourned for one hour. After the break, mother Yüksel Güran will appear before the judge.

DEFENDANTS RETURN TO THE COURTROOM

The trial is resuming after the break.

The defendants have returned to the courtroom.

MOTHER YÜKSEL GÜRAN TESTIFIES

Mother Yüksel Güran, who entered the courtroom accompanied by two female gendarmerie officers, is now at the defendant's stand;

I have 6 children

I have no income 

Judge: You are being tried for the death of your daughter, what do you have to say?

Yüksel Güran: I woke up at 5 in the morning. I went to the garden. I picked okra. Then I came home, woke up Osman, and sent him to work. Arif told me, 'Wake me up, I'm going to Batman.' I was very happy; my 2 children from abroad had arrived. I told the children to wake up Arif, and they did. Muzaffer came for breakfast, and Arif and Muzaffer left to go to Batman. Enes was small, he woke up late, Eren came out of the bathroom. At that time, Narin was at home. I went to Hediye's place. When I returned, Eren and Narin were playing. Narin was asking me, 'When will you buy me a wedding dress?' Then she complained to her brother, 'Why didn't you bring me a toy?' Everyone was very happy at that time. My uncle's daughter-in-law had arrived, so I went to her. Then Enes called, he was hungry.

I do not take my phone with me; the children were playing at home.

Narin wanted french fries. I made her fries for lunch. Then Muhammet and Narin argued; they were constantly arguing. Narin never had a phone, so she used mine. Hüseyin Güran's wife invited Narin to Quran classes the night before. I told her not to go, saying your uncle is sick, but she wanted to go. I swear, may I go blind. After she went to the Quran class, I never saw her again. I am very tired. Enes had also come home in the middle of the night.

Enes and Muhammet were sleeping. I drank a glass of water and went to bed. Then Hediye came to the house and left some clothes. I asked Enes why they didn't wake me up. He said,"she came and went" he said. Then Enes's phone rang twice. He said a friend called and went out to talk.

Hediye came twice. The first time, I was sleeping. When she came the second time, I had woken up. Enes went outside, and I talked to Hediye. After Hediye left, I saw Salim, but I didn't speak to him at all. Enes came and helped me. 

Judge: In the interview you gave to the TV station, you said, 'Whoever killed her, let them bring her and let there be a grave.'

Yüksel Güran: I did not say any such thing. Everyone is lying.

She continues her testimony...

Enes closed his window. I went to the mukhtar's place. Then I returned home because Muhammet and Enes were at home. I also went to Hediye's to see if Narin was there, but Narin was not there. Then I called my relatives. They all gave the same answer, saying Narin was not there. I knocked on the mosque door 'Open the door, where is Narin?' I said. At that moment, someone I know from the village said Narin was down below. Everyone told me, 'Yüksel, don't be afraid, she is here.' they consoled. The whole village went out to search for Narin. I don't know who called the gendarmerie afterward. Then the whole world flocked to Tavşantepe. 

MOTHER YÜKSEL GÜRAN'S TESTIMONY WAS TAKEN 

Judge: Did you kill Narin?

- Yüksel Güran: No, how could I kill my own child?

- Judge: Could Salim or Enes have killed her?

- Yüksel Güran: No

- Judge: Could it be Nevzat?

- Yüksel Güran: Everything is clear

- Judge: Nevzat never said 'I killed her'.

Are you aware of the fight between the women?

- Yüksel Güran: No. 

- Judge: There is a report from the gendarmerie stating that the mother might be lying to protect Enes.

- Yüksel Güran: I was wondering when this commander would come and tell me.

The commander said, 'We have all the photos, the mafia will come and kill Enes.' Because I was afraid, I prayed, 'My God, protect my children, protect Enes.'

- Judge: Which commander?

- Yüksel Güran: Commander Hülya.

At that time, Enes was being taken away in handcuffs, and I wanted to hug him.

- Judge: Could you be protecting him because a male child is considered more valuable?

Would you protect him even if Enes had committed the murder?

- Yüksel Güran: No, I would never protect him; we were all dying for Narin.

- Judge: There is an HTS analysis report; your phone and Enes's phone were at home at 15:20, and Salim entered the house.

- Yüksel Güran: Absolutely not.

- Judge: Nevzat also says he entered the house; that signal indicates that you, Enes, and Salim were at home.

- Yüksel Güran: I swear they were not at home.

- Judge: At 15:30, you were at home and awake.

- Yüksel Güran: I was at home at that time.

- Judge: Then how did you not see them?

- Yüksel Güran: They were not in the house. 

If they came outside the house, I did not see or hear them. I did not hear the sound of a car. 

Judge: Do you have a relationship with Salim?

- Yüksel Güran: Absolutely not, I swear.

- Judge: When you entered the barn, did you see your son with another girl?

Did you see her in a relationship with someone else, or with a dog?

- Yüksel Güran: Absolutely not, I did not see anything.

- Judge: Is there any hostility with Salim? 

- Yüksel Güran: No.

- Judge: Why is Nevzat speaking like that?

- Yüksel Güran: He is slandering. He does not fear God. Is Salim killing a chicken that he could kill her in 2 minutes?

- Judge: That is what I am wondering as well.

- Yüksel Güran: They have stained my honor; I have been married for 22 years and have 5 children. For 22 years, my husband has never slapped me; he has taken care of me like a rose.

If I had an affair with Salim, kill me, but do not stain my honor.

Turning to Nevzat Bahtiyar, she said, "He is lying."

Then, pounding the podium, she said, "He is lying."

- Judge: What time did you go to the mosque?

- Yüksel Güran: The evening call to prayer was being recited.

At this moment, the father, Arif Güran, left the courtroom in tears.

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asked;

- Did you encounter Nevzat Bahtiyar?

- I was searching around; I might have passed in front of Nevzat's house.

- Did you say, 'Let there be a grave for my daughter'?

- Absolutely not.

Former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren asked:

- Everyone except your lawyers is here for Narin. In my opinion, Narin was killed by her family; everyone wanted to do something for Narin.

- They killed my daughter.

- I am appealing to your conscience. After I attended Narin's autopsy, we are here for the children in that house, for all the Narins in that house.

No child in Turkey has ever been supported like this. We couldn't do it before. You should have been here as a complainant. The mother says something, the father says something, the villager says something; we will resolve this at the prosecutor's office. They came to you, the headscarf is with you. You said you came with a purple headscarf.

Where is that headscarf?

- That headscarf is with me, the purple headscarf. I said it looked similar.

- Where did you find it?

- It was at home. 

Nahit Eren: Did Muhammet and Enes come home together?

Yüksel Güran: No, Muhammet was not with him.

- I am appealing to your conscience for the last time.  

- I swear, she came twice."  

- There is no need to swear. Did Hediye tell you where she was before 15:00?

- No, she did not.

- What is this issue about the blood, the turkey blood?

- It happened the night before. In the morning, I saw my turkey had no head.

It had stayed outside during the night.

And I told people about this.

- That blood is human blood, and it could not be determined whose it belongs to.

The blood on the stairs is human blood.

Among your sisters, who loved Narin the most?

- Everyone loved her.

- Could it be that Yasemin loved her very much?

Everyone loved her.

MINISTRY OF FAMILY LAWYER ALSO QUESTIONS 

Arif Güran's attorney did not ask Yüksel Güran any questions.

The Ministry of Family lawyer asks;

- They told you that they saw Narin at 6:00 PM, but by that time, Narin had already been left by the stream.

How can that be?

- Yüksel Güran: Everyone told me that; they said they saw her at 5:00 PM, at 6:00 PM. Then Commander Hülya came and said, 'Yüksel, look, the 3-hour timeline doesn't add up.' 

I also have a bunch of women saying Narin went out at 7:00 PM; Maşallah says so too.

Then they said it happened in the barn.

They are pinning everything on us. 

This incident happened in the barn, and then this man comes out and says it happened inside the house; he is slandering us.

Then they said the village headman hired these witnesses. Whatever they are throwing, they are throwing it at me and my child.

- When did you inform your husband?

- I didn't call him, thinking he was on his way. Everyone was already trying to console me.

- Why would Nevzat kill her?

- At one point, Narin came by with 20 liras in her hand. I asked, 'Who gave you that?' She said, 'Nevzat brother gave it to me.'

Then it occurred to me: This man has lost his mind and killed my daughter.

This dishonorable man did not come to our house. 

Salim Güran's lawyer asks the mother, Yüksel Güran;

- When did Narin get into Salim's car?

- He got on on July 14.

- Did Nevzat ever come to your house?

- I never saw him. He would be around the house.

Judge: You say there is no serious hostility, no hostility between the parties, and that you did them favors like giving them water.

Did Nevzat have three affairs, and is that why he killed her?

Did Nevzat have a relationship with anyone, did you ask about such a thing?

He is accusing you, you know.

Yüksel Güran: No, I did not hear of any.

He has no fear of God at all.

Judge: Nevzat says, 'If I had killed her, they would have torn me to pieces.' You are also saying that you would tear Nevzat to pieces.

The man who killed Narin is the man who planned everything. Why didn't he flee? Doesn't he know that you would tear him to pieces?

Yüksel Güran: We are not tearing him to pieces; we are handing him over to you.

Salim Güran's lawyer asked if Narin used to play with Salim's children. Yüksel Güran said she played with İlayda. When the lawyer asked,

Could Nevzat also be lying about Salim?

Yüksel Güran replied, 'I leave him to God; he is slandering both of us,' and returned to her seat.

At that moment, she called out to the judge;

She said, "I want Narin's killer."

The judge stopped Yüksel Güran and asked a new question; "Could Narin have seen something else? The village is small, you know."

Yüksel Güran replied, "If I knew, I would say."

The judge: What could Narin have seen from Nevzat or Salim in those 5 minutes?

Yüksel Güran: I didn't see anything, I didn't hear any rumors.

Lawyer: Did you delete the messages?

Yüksel Güran: Absolutely not.

Lawyer: You said Narin does not go that way, she goes around the hill, and you said in a program that my daughter would never go to a stranger's car,

Yüksel Güran: Yes, I said that because everyone was saying they saw her at a different time.

Yüksel Güran's testimony has also been completed.

Now, uncle Salim Güran is at the defendant's stand...

Salim Güran is at the defendant's stand;

I am married 

I have 7 children

I am both a farmer and a village headman (muhtar)

My monthly income is 50,000 TL

I woke up early in the morning and went to the field

I arrived home around 10 or 11 o'clock.

I told the children, 'Let me buy you some clothes.'

We went to Diyarbakır to buy clothes.

After buying the clothes, I went back upstairs; an electrician friend mentioned a malfunction, and we went in his car.

At that time, (name could not be understood) went up the pole. Hasan was gathering grass.

I was in the field until 6 PM.

At that moment, a suspicious vehicle was coming toward where we were.

At that time, Nevzat was inside the garden.

I neither greeted him nor spoke to him

We hadn't been speaking for 2 months 

He wasn't paying Arif's money. (He stammered)

He is passing by the side of the road 

He doesn't greet me, and I don't greet him.

I told Nevzat, 'Pay Arif's money.' I said I would find you a plastering job.

Judge: You were in the field on the day of the incident; when did you learn that Narin had gone missing?

Salim Güran: Around 18:30. I was in the field at that time. I received a call; my daughter Gizem called and said, 'Narin is missing.'

I parked the car, the villagers were all there, I saw that the situation was serious.

I called Sergeant Major Şakir at 20:18.

Judge: Why did you download the voice recording program onto your phone?

Salim Güran: For meetings; I have a forgetfulness problem, that's why I downloaded it.

Judge: After Narin went missing, that program would have been useful to you; why did you delete it?

Salim Güran: I did not delete them.

Judge: You deleted them at 12:00 AM on the night Narin went missing.

Salim Güran: I don't understand that program.

Judge: You are very clever; you could lead everyone in this courtroom to water and bring them back thirsty.

You deleted that program, which would have been useful to you on that exact date.

Salim Güran: I did not delete it.

Judge: Disabling that program is a highly suspicious action.

**Meanwhile, a malfunction occurred in the court's recording system, and a short break was taken in the proceedings*

The malfunction has been resolved.

The trial continues from where it left off. Salim Güran is at the defendant's stand;

Judge: If you do not intentionally and knowingly disable it, it will not be deleted.

Salim Güran: I did not delete them.

Judge: You deleted your phone messages. Why?

Salim Güran: I had deleted messages from escorts.

Judge: But you didn't delete what you were supposed to; the escort messages are still on WhatsApp, while you deleted the other messages.

Salim: Didn't I delete them?

Judge: Who killed Narin?

Salim Güran: I don't know who killed her.

They brought in a faith healer; he walked around their house and pointed toward Nevzat's house. They were walking around my stepmother, and I even became suspicious of her.

Judge: Why didn't you suspect Nevzat?

Salim Güran: I didn't suspect him,

We have no hostility toward anyone.

There was a minor dispute with Nevzat.

Since Arif said there was no problem, there is no problem for me.

Judge: Why did you change your relatives' statements?

Salim Güran: When the gendarmerie took them into custody, they beat them and made them say that; I did not say such things.

Judge: According to the gendarmerie report, you misled them.

Salim Güran: Who am I to mislead the great state?

Judge:You took the gendarmerie to suspicious locations, to the place where the Gypsies were.

Salim Güran: I am the last one to hear about who went where, but I have no knowledge of it. They say they saw two Gypsies.

Judge: According to the HTS analysis report, you were at Arif Güran’s house at 15:25.

Salim Güran: I was at home at that time.

Judge: You said you were in the field at that time.

Salim Güran: I was at home at that time.

Judge: You spoke with Nevzat at 15:38.

Salim: I don't remember.

Judge: Is there a relationship between Enes and the girl?

Salim: Absolutely not, and I don't have a relationship either. I would not commit such dishonor against my brother. Nevzat, be a man and tell me, look at me and tell me that you killed Narin. 

Judge: He says he did not kill her.

Salim: Let him come out and say it.

Judge: Why do you think they are accusing you like this?

Salim: After I was arrested, they started saying things they heard on TV to save themselves. Why would I kill Narin, who was like an angel?

Judge: Why did you delete your messages?

Salim: I deleted the WhatsApp messages because of the Kalashnikov ammunition.

Judge: Do you not accept the base station records?

Salim: I do not accept them.

Judge: Did you coach the witnesses?

Salim: I absolutely did not coach them. 

Judge: You have a conversation with Nevzat at 17:46.

Salim: I did not call.

Judge: Look, these are serious pieces of evidence in this file. He called you.

Salim: He definitely did not call.

Judge: Did you send instructions to Nevzat?

Salim: Absolutely not.

Judge: You went to the place where Narin's body was located at 22:47 during the short time you found an opportunity.

Salim: Absolutely not.

Judge: You went there yourself; is the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office setting you up?

Salim: I don't know, you'd have to ask them.

Judge: Your DNA was found in the car.

Salim: The car door is broken, everyone's children get into that car.

Judge: Nevzat said you were in the driver's seat of the car and that foam was coming out of Narin's mouth. 

Could that foam have been transferred to the car by your hands? 

Salim: Absolutely not.

It was also claimed that I carried Narin's body in a blanket at the gas station, but that turned out to be baseless.

Judge: In your conversation with Ramazan Atasoy, you mention a suspicious vehicle; this statement of yours does not align.

Salim: I went there in a panic when I said there was a problem.

Judge: In your conversations, it is stated that she has been missing since 16:00, every half hour, yet everyone you directed says she went missing after 17:30.

Salim: I don't know. 

Judge: What time did Nevzat call?

Salim: He called because there was no water.

Judge: You said he hadn't called before.

Salim: He called, but he mentioned a water malfunction; I don't know if he actually called.

The trial prosecutor asks:

- In your deleted messages, you mention a red car; is that car Nevzat's?

- It was the Gypsies' car

- You must have been at home for quite a while when Nevzat called you

- I stayed for a while.

- Who could have deleted the messages?

- I don't know.

- On the evening Narin went missing, your phone pinged a cell tower near a cafe owned by your family at Dicle University.

- I didn't go in there

- Did you see Muhammet that evening?

- I did not see it. 

- A day later, Muhammet says he found slippers near the Roma settlement; did you arrange that?

- There is absolutely no such thing.

- Nevzat did not place brushwood where he left Narin's body; did you put it there?

- Absolutely not. That stream is very long; if the gendarmerie couldn't find it, how would I?

- How did Narin's DNA, that hair of Narin's, end up in your car?

- She definitely did not get into the car.

- If Narin did not get into the car, was the DNA transferred because of you?

Absolutely not.

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asks a question:

- Did you participate in the search together with Nevzat? 

- Yes, he participated in the search, but we did not search together.

- You have been friends for 30 years; why didn't you search together? 

- We did not search.

- On that day, the day Narin went missing, did you come home and rest? 

- Yes, I rested, I slept for a while. 

Arif Güran entered the courtroom during the cross-examination of Salim Güran. 

Lawyer Derya Yıldız began asking questions. 

- Did you change your clothes at home?

- No, I did not change them. 

- Has a body ever been found in the stream before? 

- I don't know. 

- You called Ramazan about the device in the field, but Ramazan denies it. 

- I heard about the device malfunction, left the house, and went there. 

Lawyer Nahit Erim has now begun asking questions. 

- In the voice recording we deleted, something fell between the stones there, towards the left, near the border. You say, 'Ramazan, okay, I'll go and check,' what are you talking about there? 

- It's about the sprinkler. 

- There is no sprinkler there. 

- I am asking you now, what do you mean by the thing that belongs to you that fell? 

- An electrical part fell, that conversation is about that. 

- Isn't that a conversation about Narin?

- Absolutely not.

Lawyer Nahit Eren continues to question Salim Güran;

- Did you not leave after dropping the children off at home at 14:30?

- I did not leave.

- Is your wife lying?

- I left the house around 16:00. 

- What did you do after you left the house at 16:00?

- I went to the drilling site. 

- They asked you about the base station data, which indicates your movements with every step you take. 

- I don't know what a base station is. If Nevzat was there, the whole village was there.

- I will ask based on the base station records. You entered Arif's house around 15:20.

- I swear I didn't go there, I didn't pass by there. The base station records are wrong. 

- Well, let's assume you were at home until 16:00. Were your children at home?

- Yes, some of them were at home.

- Why did you speak with your daughter Dilek at 15:41? If you were at home, why did you call your daughter on the phone?

- I don't remember that conversation.

- I am asking again. Did you have such a conversation?

- I don't remember. How many more times do I have to say it? 

When Salim Güran raised his voice, other lawyers intervened, warning him to speak respectfully as he was addressing an attorney.

Then the questioning continued. 

- Now, let's come to the conversation regarding my daughter Dilek; you said you don't remember. But you were caught on camera footage. How long does it take to reach the drilling site?

- 4 minutes. 

- Did you speak with Mehmet Güran during that time?

- I don't remember. 

- You had four consecutive conversations that night.

- I don't remember. 

- You are the village headman (muhtar); did you participate in all the searches?

Do you know the location where Narin was found?

- How would I know? I am in prison. I did not go to that stream, and I did not participate in the search.

- I will ask based on the base station records; didn't you go to the stream with your car that evening?

- I did not.

- But the base station records indicate that you did. 

- I don't know what a base station is.

- Your daughter is calling, saying Narin is missing. 

- The conversation is cut off.

What are you after? (He raised his voice at the lawyer again) 

An audio recording was going to be played.

However, the audio file could not be opened.

It was read as a transcript.

Salim: In that audio recording, I learned she was missing and remembered that you called me. Let me tell you what you are after; I went to the house area with Mehmet Selim.

That's enough, I don't want to talk.

His lawyer requested that Salim Güran be allowed to speak.

He said, "His tone will improve."

The presiding judge did not grant permission.

The lawyer for the Ministry of Family took the floor;

- You told Melike Güran, "Narin went missing at 19:00."

Salim: I did not say that. 

- Why did Hediye Güran change her phone?

- I don't know.

Salim Güran, appearing agitated again, said, "I haven't spoken to this man for two months."

Lawyer: These are not our statements. Hazal is very close friends with Nevzat's wife, he said.

Salim: What closeness? The woman is lying.

Lawyer: After Narin went missing, you did not include Nevzat among you.

Salim: Lie

Lawyer: How many times did you go to the stream with the gendarmerie?

Salim: I didn't go, didn't you understand?

Lawyer: Do you have a weapon?

Salim: Yes, I have a licensed firearm.

Nevzat is lying; he is a savage. He previously raided another house with a rifle butt, and if I hadn't arrived in time, he would have killed them.

It is now the turn of the defense attorneys. They are currently questioning Salim Güran.

Enes Güran's attorney;

The information provided by the HTS records is incorrect; there is a two-hour discrepancy.

Salim Güran: The camera footage is incomplete; they should bring it. The military's camera sees our village as clearly as glass.

Defense attorney: Have you deleted anything from the call recordings?

Salim: I delete them sometimes.

Salim Güran's attorney asked his own client;

- Does Nevzat Bahtiyar know about your womanizing?

- No, he doesn't. I haven't spoken to him for two months.

- Why did Nevzat name you?

- I think he saw it on television, he heard about the DNA, and that is why he accused me.

- Did Narin play in front of your house?

- She used to play.

Salim Güran's court interrogation has also been completed.

Now, the father, Arif Güran, will testify as a witness.

Judge: Who do you think killed your daughter?

Arif Güran: Everyone is saying something, of course. I didn't sleep that night.

People were messaging me saying they had the girl.

That is why I thought my daughter had been kidnapped.

I have never caused harm to anyone.

I am not a confrontational person.

Nevzat and I had a problem 20 days before the incident due to a car sale.

Nevzat came to me saying he had no money.

We went to the car dealer.

They fined me 80,000 liras because of the car we got from Nevzat there.

Later, Salim and I met with Nevzat.

Nevzat said, 'We have no business dealings with you.'

He even stuttered, and I made fun of his stuttering.

'Arif wanted to make a profit by taking Nevzat's car, but the man he sold it to was arrested; when there was a loss, they became indebted to Nevzat.

They called someone named Hacı to act as a mediator.

He said 10,000 to Salim

and 30,000 to Arif.'

But he did not accept Nevzat Hacı's offer.

Nevzat could not have kidnapped my child in this incident.

But the state sees our house; if they had looked, they would have seen everything.

Judge: Is it possible that the state, which had the foresight to bring a drone there, did not think of that?

Your wife, you, your son, Salim, and Nevzat all have contradictory statements.

Arif Güran: Today, even Nevzat Bahtiyar could be innocent.

Judge: Did you decide as a family to pin this murder on Nevzat?

Arif Güran: No, Your Honor, would I make a deal with my child's murderer?

Judge: Who asked you to cast suspicion on the state?

Arif Güran: If my daughter has a grave, it is thanks to the state.

I have no intention of blaming my state.

How can this man sit here in front of me?

The state is eternal. 

If this person had been taken at gunpoint, Nevzat should have come and told me; then he would have been held in high regard.

I am a complainant.

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asked Arif Güran;

- Nevzat, were you providing water before this incident?

- Since the beginning of this year, I have been the one constantly providing the water.

- Did you suspect anyone other than Nevzat in this incident?

- I suspect everyone.

Judge: Arif Güran is filing a complaint against everyone.

The lawyer for the Ministry of Family took the floor;

- There are HTS records. 

- I don't know about HTS; I want to see the camera footage. That is the only evidence for me.

Lawyer Nahit Erim took the floor;

- Did you hold family meetings or come together from the moment Narin went missing until she was found, and until the indictment was prepared?

- Because I wasn't eating or sleeping, I didn't meet up much; I only chatted and met with Ali Rıza Güran. He is my uncle.

- Who did you meet with the day before Narin was found?

- The day before, I met with a family and informed the Gendarmerie; that family was my brother Erhan and my brother Hüseyin.

- You have a conversation with Enes from prison. You tell him not to talk too much. What do you mean by that?

- Am I the murderer? Am I protecting my son? What should I say to my son? I was just giving him moral support.

Enes Güran's lawyer asked Arif Güran;

- Was your statement taken recently?

- It was taken. The state prepared the indictment based on the killer's words and did not look at the cameras; my statement was taken as a suspect because I said this.

Salim Güran's lawyer asked;

- Who has the final say in the Güran family: Salim, Hüseyin, or Ali Rıza Güran? Who manages the entire family?

- Never Salim. In my presence, Salim has no authority whatsoever. Neither do the others.

- Have you ever had a conflict with Salim Güran?

- He is my brother. Our houses are across from each other, never. 

If he had any ill intentions toward me, I would have said so.

- Does Salim have a reason to kill Narin?

- Never, it could never happen. I said that on the first day as well.

- Your wife.

- My wife, never. We married for love. In fact, my mother didn't want her because she was short, but I said she would be the one.

My wife of 22 years, if something were wrong, her voice would tremble, never.

- Why does your son work away from home?

- I had them work away from home so they wouldn't get into trouble and would learn a trade. Enes worked too.

Arif Güran's testimony has also been completed.

Salim's lawyer asked Gazal Bahtiyar, the wife of Nevzat Bahtiyar; 

- Did you faint when you found Narin?

Gazal Bahtiyar: We were all crying for her.

- Do you not think that carrying Narin's body is as brutal as killing her?

- I don't know.

- Why are you defending your husband?

- I am saying, whoever killed my husband... (Her sentence was cut short.)

The presiding judge intervened and did not ask her to answer.

The first hearing of the case regarding the brutal murder of Narin Güran, in which her mother, uncle, brother, and neighbor Nevzat Bahtiyar are being tried with a request for aggravated life imprisonment, concluded after 14 hours. 

 

The trial will resume tomorrow at 09:00.