Sisters Melek and Seçil G., who beat a shepherd in Maraş, released at first hearing

Sisters Melek G. and Seçil G., who beat shepherd Nail Yener with a stick after he refused to buy them alcohol and recorded the incident on their mobile phone in the Andırın district of Maraş, were released at the first hearing of the case filed against them.

The incident occurred on September 20, 2024, in the rural Çokak neighborhood of Andırın. While Nail Yener was grazing his animals, Melek G. and her sister Seçil G. approached him. The sisters asked Yener to buy them alcohol. After receiving a negative response, Seçil G. slapped Nail Yener and then struck him with a stick.

Melek G. recorded those moments on her mobile phone. In the footage, Nail Yener, who was injured in the head, is heard saying, "For God's sake, don't hit me," while Seçil G. continued to strike him with the stick and said to her sister, "Look, his brain is bleeding. Look, look at how the blood is coming from his brain, zoom in the camera. Yes friends, our brother Nail's head is bleeding but it will be fine," continuing to assault Yener.

M.G. said, "Hit his legs, hit his legs." In the continuation of the footage, Seçil G. continued to hit Nail Yener while occasionally singing folk songs and dancing. Upon Nail Yener's complaint, the suspects Melek G. and Seçil G. were detained and sent to prison. The investigation into the incident was completed, and a lawsuit was filed against the two sisters at the Andırın Criminal Court of First Instance.

In the indictment, it was requested that Melek G. be sentenced to up to 11 years and 10 months in prison for 'simple injury with a weapon against a person who cannot defend themselves physically or mentally,' 'threat with a weapon by more than one person together, and public insult,' and that Seçil G., who was under 18 at the time of the incident, be sentenced to up to 7 years and 11 months. The first hearing of the case was held. While Nail Yener and the lawyers for the parties attended the hearing, Melek G. and Seçil G. connected to the courtroom via SEGBİS from the prison where they were being held. At the hearing, Nail Yener stated that his testimony given to the prosecutor's office was valid and that he was filing a complaint against the defendants.

THEY WERE RELEASED

In her defense, Melek Güngör admitted to the crime, saying, "I regret what I did. I accept that I committed the crime. I recorded the footage on the camera that day. I gave the stick to my sister so she would beat Nail Yener. I apologize to Nail Yener very much. I am very regretful, I request my acquittal."

Seçil G. also apologized to Nail Yener in her defense, saying, "I regret the incident. I accept the crime. Before the incident, Nail Yener told me, 'We will come to you for a good cause.' I thought they were coming for his nephew Mustafa. But I was wrong. It wasn't like that, I apologize to Nail Yener. He is from my village anyway. Before the incident, neither Nail Yener nor I had any wrongdoing toward each other. I request my acquittal."

The judge decided to release Melek G. and Seçil G., taking into account the time the defendants spent in detention and the fact that the evidence had been collected, and adjourned the case.