Oğuz Murat Aci's father speaks out: 'Neither his mother nor I can bear to see my son on screen'
On the evening of March 1, 16-year-old Timur Cihantimur, who got behind the wheel in Kemerburgaz, Istanbul, struck a group including Oğuz Murat Aci and his friends, who were trying to repair a broken-down ATV on the side of the road. Following the accident, Cihantimur and his mother, Eylem Tok, fled first to Egypt and then to the United States. They were apprehended in Boston, USA, following initiatives by Turkish authorities.
12punto
As Cihantimur and his mother Eylem Tok are set to appear in court for the second time today, while Turkey has submitted an extradition request, the father who lost his child, Özer Aci, answered questions from Sözcü Television.
''I HAVE CALLED FOR JUSTICE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING''
Father Özer Aci spoke as follows:
"We are now fighting for the killers of my son to be caught and brought to justice. We have no other goal. I have called for justice from the very beginning; they thought I would give up, they underestimated me. But because I was not alone, I did not give up, and in the end, they were caught in Boston. This is an important stage. We were patient and we made an effort, and in the end, we had them caught; I believe the judges will make the best possible decision. I cannot watch the news or television. Neither his mother nor I can bear to see my son on screen."
''DO THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING A GOOD DEED BY SMUGGLING THEIR CHILD ABROAD?''
The grieving father continued with these words:
"Ms. Eylem thought she would come to court alone, but there were many people there supporting me, looking into her eyes and saying, 'you are guilty.' From now on, I will respect the decision made by justice. When they come to Turkey, both his mother and father can come to offer their condolences. While everyone else offers me their condolences, the person responsible for this matter should also feel some pain.
My child was 29 years old; no one understands what that father feels as well as I do. But he should not have let things reach this point; he should have taken responsibility for his son. Do they think they are doing a good deed by smuggling their child abroad? Could they not have thought that a crime eventually has a penalty?"