Verdict in the 'July 15 Veterans Case': 10 defendants acquitted, 4 sentenced to 3,600 years each
A verdict has been reached in the case involving 14 defendants who were originally tried in the General Staff 'Main Case' on charges of being members of the so-called 'Peace at Home Council'—the group alleged to have planned the July 15 coup attempt—but whose files were separated after it was determined they were not council members, specifically regarding charges related to injuries sustained on July 15.
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The court acquitted 10 defendants, including former Lieutenant General İlhan Talu, the then-Chief of General Staff Personnel; former Presidential Chief Aide Colonel Ali Yazıcı; and Ramazan Gözel, the former Chief of Staff to then-Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar, of charges of attempted intentional homicide. However, it sentenced 4 defendants, who were personnel at the Army Aviation Command where helicopters took off that night, to prison terms ranging from 3,648 to 3,680 years each.
In the trial held at the Sincan Prison Complex by the Ankara 17th High Criminal Court, the prosecutor, who presented their final opinion on the merits in November, had requested the acquittal of the 10 defendants on the grounds that they were not responsible for injuries across the country, and that the 4 defendants be punished for attempted intentional homicide.
The defendants who were determined not to be members of the so-called Peace at Home Council were:
Former Lieutenant General İlhan Talu, the then-Chief of General Staff Personnel; former Major General Osman Ünlü; former Brigadier General Ahmet Bican Kırker; former Presidential Chief Aide Colonel Ali Yazıcı; former Staff Colonel Ramazan Gözel, the then-Chief of Staff to Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar; former Staff Colonel Osman Kardal, head of the Armed Forces Command and Control Center (SKKM); former Lieutenant Colonel Ertuğrul Terzi, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion Commander; former Petty Officer Ayhan Carık, Special Forces Command personnel; former Brigadier General Ünsal Coşkun, the then-Army Aviation School Commander; former Lieutenant Colonel Mehmet Şahin, Army Aviation Command Chief of Staff; former Staff Lieutenant Colonel Özcan Karacan, Army Aviation Command Attack Battalion Commander; and Halil Gül, acting regiment commander.
Following the completion of the defense arguments against the final opinion by the defendants and their lawyers in June, the verdict hearing was held today.
Announcing its decision after the defendants' final statements, the Court ruled for the acquittal of İlhan Talu, Osman Ünlü, Ali Yazıcı, Ramazan Gözel, Osman Kardal, Ertuğrul Terzi, and Ayhan Carık, stating that it was not proven they had committed the crime of attempted intentional homicide.
The Court dismissed the case filed against Ahmet Bican Kırker by 5 victims/complainants, including retired police officer Necmettin Utuş, on the grounds that a verdict had already been reached on these charges by the Ankara 19th High Criminal Court, and also ruled for Kırker's acquittal on other charges.
The court sentenced Osman Karacan and Halil Gül to 16 years in prison for each of the 228 victims/complainants, and Ünsal Coşkun and Mehmet Şahin to 16 years in prison for each of the 230 victims/complainants.
Müyesser YILDIZ
September 25, 2026