Shocking development in the Kerem Karakaya murder case after 7 years! 'I wish it were my child who died'

In the 7th year of the case opened over the 2018 death of Kerem Karakaya (12), who was shot in the head with a rifle by his classmate F.B. in the Termal district of Yalova, the trial of F.B.'s mother, Serpil B., for 'intentional homicide' has begun following suspicions of murder. The Karakaya family's lawyer, Şermin Tankut, stated that there were gunpowder and swab traces on Serpil B.'s hands, face, and clothing, alleging, "Kerem saw something after looking through the balcony door and was then killed." Serpil B. denied the accusations, and the hearing was adjourned.

HE WENT TO HIS FRIEND'S HOUSE AND WAS KILLED

The incident occurred on June 3, 2018, in Akköy, located in the Termal district of Yalova. Kerem Karakaya went to the house of his school friend F.B. around 08:00 in the morning. Allegedly, a short time later, Karakaya lost his life after being shot in the head by F.B., who was playing with a break-action shotgun found in the woodshed of the house. Due to F.B.'s lack of criminal liability, his mother, Serpil B., began to be tried at the Yalova 5th Criminal Court of First Instance for 'causing death by negligence'.

INDICTMENT AGAINST HIS FRIEND'S MOTHER

The court filed a criminal complaint with the Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to the weight of the rifle, the fact that it was fired twice, the changing of the cartridge, the fact that the firing mechanism of the weapon could not have been known by the child dragged into crime, the incomplete collection of evidence, and the existence of suspicion of intentional homicide.

Concluding the investigation, the prosecutor's office requested in the indictment prepared against Serpil B. that the defendant be arrested for the crime of intentional homicide.

"I WISH IT WERE MY CHILD WHO DIED"

In line with the prosecutor's request, the file was transferred 7 years later from the Yalova 5th Criminal Court of First Instance to the Yalova 3rd High Criminal Court. The trial of Serpil B. for 'intentional homicide' began yesterday.

The defendant, Serpil B., who is being tried without arrest, attended the hearing at the Yalova 3rd High Criminal Court from the province of Trabzon via SEGBİS. The defendant denied the murder allegations, explaining that she was fasting on the day of the incident, which took place during the month of Ramadan, and that she had gone to bed after the morning call to prayer.

Explaining that her brother was in the house besides her child and that she went outside after hearing a gunshot, Serpil B. said, "It's a lie, such a thing cannot happen. I am a mother too. I wish it were my child who died."

"I MAY HAVE TOUCHED EVERYONE AFTER THE INCIDENT"

When asked about the gunpowder traces found on her during the incident, Serpil B. stated that she had fired the rifle 3-4 days earlier to scare away wild animals because the house she lived in at the time was in a desolate area, adding, "I did not pull the cartridge after the incident. I don't remember, I might have held the rifle. I may have touched everyone after the incident. I do not accept the crime."

When asked about the report stating that F.B. could not have loaded and fired the weapon, Serpil B. claimed the rifle was light.

"HE SAW SOMETHING AND WAS THEN KILLED"

Kerem's father, Halil, and mother, Rahime Karakaya, also demanded that the defendant be punished.

Stating that there were contradictions in the statements given after the incident, the Karakaya family's lawyer, Şermin Tankut, said, "We believe the rifle was not in the woodshed at a height of 2.5 meters, but next to the washing machine. Kerem saw something after looking through the balcony door and was then killed. There is mud and drag marks on Kerem's clothes. There are 4 fingerprints in the Forensic Medicine report. Someone held it, it was an execution. We demand the defendant's arrest."

"THEY ATTACKED MY HONOR"

Upon the allegations, defendant Serpil B. said, "I never accept it. They wrote a good script. They attacked my honor."

The court panel decided to continue the judicial control measure for the defendant and adjourned the hearing.

"THE WOMAN IS WALKING AROUND FREE"

Mother Rahime Karakaya, who wants Serpil B. to be arrested, said, "In the morning, my child was going to a badminton match. My child leaves the house and comes to the minibus stop. He comes there by bicycle. He waits for Fatih, Fatih doesn't come. When Fatih doesn't come, he goes to Fatih's house. When he went to Fatih's house, my child was shot as soon as he arrived. His uncle called me. He said, 'Fatih and Kerem fought, come to our house.' I called my husband, we went to the house together, I saw the ambulance waiting at the mouth of the road. When I saw the ambulance, I realized it was my child. I went to the hospital, they had covered his face with a blanket. They took the child and the mother to give statements on the same day, and after taking their statements, they fled to Trabzon at 3 a.m. We knew the child didn't do it; he was tried in the Criminal Court of First Instance until now. The woman has been walking around free until now. I trust the state, I want my child's murderer to be arrested as soon as possible."

'A 12-YEAR-OLD CHILD CANNOT USE THIS WEAPON'

Father Halil Karakaya stated that 12-year-old F.B. could not have used the rifle, saying, "There is zero chance of a 12-year-old child using this weapon. This weapon weighs 4 kilos 300 grams and is 110 centimeters long. We had a court hearing today, there was no arrest. I want Serpil to be arrested. It has been 6 years since my son's death, it will be 7 years in a month. Even though there is gunpowder and swab residue on Serpil's body, hands, face, and clothes, there is no arrest. No matter how much we demand it, it just doesn't happen. It became clear in the expert report that the child could not use this weapon. It is clear that Serpil used the weapon. Currently, Serpil is being tried for intentional homicide."