Prison sentence for defense attorney Vahit Bıçak in Ceren Damar Şenel murder case: Appeals court rules it 'lawful'

In the case regarding the murder of research assistant Ceren Damar Şenel at Çankaya University Faculty of Law in Ankara, the defense arguments made by attorney Vahit Bıçak had sparked public outrage.

In a joint statement issued by many bar associations, Bıçak was condemned.

According to the report by Mesut Hasan Benli from Hürriyet; a lawsuit had been filed against Bıçak at the Ankara 35th High Criminal Court, seeking up to 10 years in prison for the crimes of 'insult' and 'insulting the memory of a deceased person'.

On March 10, 2023, the court concluded the trial and sentenced attorney Bıçak to 1 year, 5 months, and 15 days in prison for the crime of 'insulting the memory of a deceased person,' moving away from the lower limit and without applying any good conduct reduction.

'VERDICT IS ACCURATE'

In its reasoned decision, the court stated that the statements made by the defendant Bıçak “not only damaged the honor, dignity, and reputation of the deceased's family but were also of a nature that degraded and damaged the memory of the deceased.” The parties filed an appeal against the decision. The appellate review of the verdict was conducted by the Ankara Regional Court of Justice 20th Criminal Chamber.

The Court of Appeals ruled unanimously on February 1 that the sentence was in accordance with the law.

The reasoning for the decision stated that “the attributed act was committed by the defendant and there was no inaccuracy in the verdict rendered.”