First hearing in Atlas Çağlayan murder case tomorrow

The trial regarding the death of 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan, who was stabbed to death during a fight in Güngören, will begin tomorrow.

The hearing, which will be held at the Bakırköy 2nd Juvenile High Criminal Court, is expected to be attended by the victim's family as complainants, while 14-year-old E.Ç. is expected to present his defense before the judge for the first time. The hearing will take place in the conference hall located inside the courthouse.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

In the indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, E.Ç. (14) is listed as the 'suspect', Atlas Çağlayan as the 'victim', 4 children including Çağlayan's twin brother Doruk as 'aggrieved parties', and 3 people including Çağlayan's parents as 'complainants'.

The indictment states that on the day of the incident, January 14, at approximately 20:16, an argument broke out between two groups at a cafe, during which the Child Driven to Crime (SSÇ) E.Ç. stabbed Atlas Çağlayan, resulting in Çağlayan's death at the hospital where he was taken, and that an investigation was subsequently launched.

The post-mortem examination report stated that the injury was lethal on its own.

The indictment includes a report from the Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK). The report emphasizes that E.Ç. committed the crimes of 'intentional killing', 'violation of Law No. 6136 on firearms, knives, and other instruments', and 'armed threat', and that he had sufficiently developed the ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of his actions and to direct his behavior.

Furthermore, the post-mortem examination report of the victim Atlas Çağlayan, dated January 15, 2026, was also included in the indictment. According to the report, Çağlayan had a 3.5-centimeter incision in the front center of his chest and a 1.5-centimeter incision on the left side of his chest. The autopsy report identified 2 sharp and penetrating instrument wounds on the body, noting large sharp and penetrating instrument wounds in certain areas of his chest, and that this injury was lethal on its own.

The video analysis records from the day of the incident were also included in the indictment. According to the records, E.Ç. and his friends were sitting in the cafe on the day of the incident, then Atlas arrived, E.Ç. exchanged glances with Atlas while leaving the cafe, Atlas and his friends followed the SSÇ and his friends, E.Ç. pulled a knife from his pocket, swung the knife in his hand at Çağlayan 2-3 times, wounding him, and the SSÇ fled with his friends after stabbing the victim. Additionally, it was stated that no base station records were found between the suspect E.Ç. and the victim Atlas Çağlayan during a 3-month search of their location data. According to the examination of E.Ç.'s phone, the indictment also mentioned that the suspect had multiple photos of himself with a weapon, photos of weapons alone, and 1 photo of a pocket knife.

DEMAND FOR UP TO 21 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT

In the prepared indictment, it was requested that the suspect E.Ç. be sentenced to a total of 13 years and 6 months to 21 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison for the crimes of 'intentional killing of a child', 'violation of Law No. 6136', and 'chain-linked armed threat'.