First hearing in Çanakkale femicide case: Victim was raped after being strangled to death

The first hearing for the femicide case that occurred on February 16, 2024, in the Biga district of Çanakkale was held at the Çanakkale 3rd High Criminal Court. 

In the incident, Fırat Yıldızhan strangled his wife, Saliha Gizem Yıldızhan, who was in the process of divorcing him, with a rope following an argument in a car and buried her body in the Çavuşköy area of Biga.

After Saliha Gizem's relatives reported her missing, police teams apprehended and detained Yıldızhan. Yıldızhan confessed to the murder and showed the location where the body was buried. 

Police reached Saliha Gizem's body on February 18 and also detained Fırat Yıldızhan's brother, Yağız Yıldızhan. Both suspects were arrested and referred to the courthouse.

In the indictment prepared by the Çanakkale Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a lawsuit was filed against Fırat Yıldızhan for 'Premeditated murder of a spouse' and against Yağız Yıldızhan for 'Premeditated murder of a close relative,' both seeking aggravated life imprisonment. 

During the hearing, Fırat Yıldızhan claimed that he committed the murder intentionally and with premeditation, while Yağız Yıldızhan argued that he was only involved in burying the body after the murder.

RAPED AFTER DEATH 

Ahmet Erzi, the lawyer for the family of the murdered Saliha Gizem Yıldızhan, stated in a press statement after the hearing that a forensic medical report confirming that Saliha Gizem was raped after her death had been added to the file.

 The hearing was adjourned for one month to complete the deficiencies in the file. It was stated that efforts will continue to ensure the defendants receive the harshest possible sentence at the second hearing to be held on September 5.