Prosecutor in Yılmaz Güney's murder case speaks out: Yılmaz Güney was the one who caused the death, but...

Yılmaz Güney, known by the nickname 'The Ugly King' in Turkish cinema, was commemorated on the 40th anniversary of his death. At the ceremony, Güney's wife, Fatoş Güney, said, "He was the hope of the poor and the outcry of those who were tried to be silenced."

Born in 1937, Güney was sentenced to 19 years in prison after shooting and killing Yumurtalık District Judge Sefa Mutlu with a handgun following an argument while filming the movie 'Endişe' (Anxiety) in Adana in 1974. Güney, who fled abroad, passed away in Paris in 1984.

'IMPULSIVE ACTIONS CAUSED THE MURDER'

Yalçın Öğütcan, the Yumurtalık Public Prosecutor at the time who handled the murder of Judge Mutlu—an event also witnessed by CHP Adana Mayor Ege Bagatur—and a former DYP Adana deputy, recounted the incident and his experiences to Sözcü years later. Öğütcan stated, "The murder was caused by impulsive actions in a moment of anger," and added the following:

"That night, Yılmaz Güney fired his gun into the air at the dinner table. Judge Sefa Mutlu, who was at the next table, reacted. There were verbal provocations under the influence of alcohol, and the murder was committed. We took charge of the case and detained Güney. He said, 'I am a humanist, I have nothing to do with the murder.'

'IT WAS YILMAZ GÜNEY WHO CAUSED THE DEATH'

His nephew, Abdullah Pütün, took the blame, but his statements were contradictory. Witnesses also avoided testifying, saying, 'I had gone to the restroom, I didn't see it.' The restroom was for two people, but 20 people claimed to have been in there. They tried to mislead justice. It was Yılmaz Güney who fired the shot and caused the death, but it was not a premeditated murder with a targeted victim. The incident was caused by a moment of impulsive action."