Sisters who beat and filmed shepherd released

In the rural Çokak neighborhood of Andırın on September 20, 2024, Melek G. and Seçil G. approached shepherd Nail Yener, who was grazing his animals, and demanded that he buy them alcohol. After receiving a refusal, Seçil G., one of the sisters, assaulted Nail Yener.

In the incident, which was recorded on a mobile phone by her older sister Melek G., Seçil G. first slapped Yener and then began hitting him with a stick. Bleeding from the head due to the blows he received, Nail Yener said, “For the love of God, don't hit me.” However, Seçil G. told her sister, who was recording her, “Look, his brain is bleeding. Look, look at how the blood is coming from his brain, bring the camera closer. Yes friends, our brother Nail's head is bleeding, but it will be fine,” and continued to hit Yener with the stick. While Seçil G. continued to assault Nail Yener, occasionally singing and dancing, Melek G. directed her sister by saying, “Hit his legs.” Following a complaint by Nail Yener, Melek G. and Seçil G. were arrested.

At the end of the investigation, a lawsuit was filed at the Andırın Criminal Court of First Instance against Melek G. for up to 11 years and 10 months in prison, and against Seçil G., who was under 18 at the time of the incident, for up to 7 years and 11 months in prison, on charges of 'simple injury with a weapon against a person unable to defend themselves physically or mentally,' 'threat with a weapon by more than one person together,' and 'public insult.'

"I WILL NOT COMMIT SUCH A CRIME AGAIN"

The final hearing of the case was held. While the lawyers for the parties attended the hearing, the defendants Melek G. and Seçil G. connected to the courtroom via the SEGBİS system from the prison where they were being held. Asked for her final words at the hearing, defendant Seçil G. stated that she repeated her defenses from previous hearings and said, “I am very sorry for what I did. I will not commit such a crime again.”

Older sister Melek G. also said in her defense that she would not commit such a crime again.

The public prosecutor, noting that in the footage Seçil G. insulted and threatened Nail Yener and assaulted him with a stick considered a weapon, and that Melek G., who recorded these moments with a mobile phone camera, acted in unity of thought and action with her sister from the very beginning of the incident, requested that the defendants be punished.

RELEASE DECISION ISSUED

At the end of the hearing, the judge sentenced Seçil G. to 1 year, 9 months, and 20 days in prison for the crimes of assault and threat with a weapon, and a judicial fine of 19 thousand 400 liras for the crime of insult. Melek G. was sentenced to 1 year, 3 months, and 37 days in prison and a judicial fine of 11 thousand 600 liras for the same crimes. The judge decided to defer the announcement of the verdict for the defendants and ordered their release.