'Non-prosecution' decision in Minguzzi murder sparked outrage! Statement from the Minister of Justice

The decision not to classify the knife used in the murder of 14-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, who was stabbed to death at a flea market in Kadıköy, Istanbul, as a prohibited item and the subsequent non-prosecution ruling had sparked major backlash.

Following this outcry, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement, noting that while the knife used was technically not in the prohibited class, it was considered a weapon of crime because it was used in a murder.

The statement said, "In conclusion, a bread knife we use at home is not a crime under Law No. 6136. If you kill or injure someone with a bread knife, the weapon here is accepted as a murder weapon."

NON-PROSECUTION DECISION SPARKED MAJOR BACKLASH

In the Minguzzi murder, a forensic examination of the knife used by the detained suspect B.B. determined that the murder weapon was 'not among the knives that carry a prohibited nature.' Consequently, a decision of non-prosecution was issued regarding B.B. for the crime of "unauthorized purchase, carrying, or possession of knives or other tools."

SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTED

Following the announcement of this decision, a major backlash emerged, particularly on social media. After this reaction, the Ministry of Justice issued a written statement, indicating that they wanted to clarify a misunderstood issue regarding the news that the knife used in the murder was not considered illegal and that there would be no prosecution.

The statement said, "First of all, all tools used during the commission of a crime are weapons. For example, if a person throws a stone at another and an injury occurs with the stone, the stone here is considered a weapon. This situation is determined in Article 6 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK)."

"Apart from this, Article 4 of the Law on Firearms and Knives and Other Tools No. 6136 contains weapons that are considered criminal elements. According to this law, for knives to be considered weapons, they must be above a certain size. Similarly, firearms must be unlicensed, and ammunition must be seized in a certain quantity. The issue of whether knives of a certain length and shape constitute a crime is entirely a technical matter and is clearly stated in Law No. 6136."

"IF YOU KILL SOMEONE WITH A BREAD KNIFE, IT IS ACCEPTED AS A MURDER WEAPON"

The statement included the provision in Article 4 of the law, which states, "The manufacture of daggers, stilettos, bayonets, sword-canes, switchblade knives, machetes, swords, bayonets, pointed and grooved knives, maces, weighted whips, strangulation wires or chains, brass knuckles, and similar tools of a special nature intended solely for attack and defense is prohibited," and added, "If a person possesses the weapons listed in this article, they automatically act in violation of Law No. 6136. In conclusion; a bread knife we use at home is not a crime under Law No. 6136. If you kill or injure someone with a bread knife, the weapon here is accepted as a murder weapon."