Leyla Özdemir murder in Bitlis: Family files criminal complaint alleging 'attempt to cover up affair'

Leyla Özdemir, who lived in the village of Yolcular in the central district of Bitlis, was killed by her husband, Ömer Özdemir, with a firearm. It was learned that Ömer Özdemir, who is reported to be a village guard, went to the police station and turned himself in after the incident.

Following an investigation at the scene by teams dispatched to the village upon notification, Leyla Özdemir's body was taken to the Bitlis State Hospital morgue for an autopsy. After the autopsy procedures were completed, the body was handed over to her father's relatives. Özdemir was laid to rest in the village of Cevizlik in the Şirvan district of Siirt.

FAMILY'S ALLEGATIONS TAKEN TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

According to a report by Orçun Ak from OdaTV, Leyla Özdemir's family claimed that the murder was committed to prevent the emergence of allegations that Ömer Özdemir was having an affair with his sister-in-law, S.Y. Family members have filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office regarding these allegations. No official statement has yet been made by the competent authorities regarding these claims.

Leyla Özdemir's uncle, Mehmet Selim Boşboğa, stated that as a family, they want all perpetrators to be tried. Boşboğa claimed that the incident is being linked to these allegations in the village and demanded that the murder be clarified in all its aspects.

In his statement for the criminal complaint, her father, Dursun Özdemir, explained that his daughter had been married to Ömer Özdemir for about 11 years and had been experiencing family problems for the last 1 to 1.5 years. Father Özdemir alleged that his daughter knew about the affair within her husband's family and had spoken about it.

My daughter told Ömer Özdemir's family about the affair she knew of. After it was learned that no action would be taken by his family and that the incident would be relayed to other people, she was killed by Ömer Özdemir and his family.

In his statement, Dursun Özdemir also alleged that about a week before she was killed, his daughter was left at her uncle's house with her child, her phone was taken, and she was later taken from there at gunpoint. Stating that his daughter's suitcase, shoes, and jewelry remained at her uncle's house, Özdemir argued that this was an indication that she was taken by force.

Father Özdemir also said that shortly before the murder, Ömer Özdemir called him on the phone and made accusations against his daughter. Özdemir reported that he was called again from the same number a few minutes later and that Ömer Özdemir said, "I killed your daughter, may God have mercy on her soul."

The investigation launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the incident is ongoing.