Victim testimonies in Kartalkaya trial are heartbreaking

In the fire that occurred on January 21 at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya Ski Center, 78 people lost their lives and 133 were injured. In the investigation launched after the incident, a prison sentence of up to 1,998 years each is being requested for 32 defendants, including the hotel owners and managers, on charges of 'homicide with probable intent' and 'intentional injury with probable intent'.

The first hearing of the case began on July 7, and the sports hall of the Bolu Social Sciences High School was converted into a courtroom. While the defense statements of the defendants were taken in the first days, the testimonies of the victims were heard on the 7th day.

Ezgi Çilingir Bağcı, a mother who lost her high school student son Eren Bağcı in the fire, said, "I am proud that we managed to remain good people among those who disregard human and moral values to earn money in such a bad way. We have a fire alarm systems company, and according to the reports, the fire sirens did not ring even once for 30-40 years."

Father Eray Bağcı directed harsh criticisms at the defendants, stating, "Eren was a child who possessed all the things that none of the creatures sitting here have. You are not just murderers, you are traitors to the country."

Vahap Ozan Kotan, who lost his son Ömür Kotan, stated that he is a psychiatrist and said, "The last scenes I think about every night before falling asleep are the moments when Ömür and Eren were trying to save people amidst the smoke. How much did 36 children suffer, how many minutes did it take; I can only fall asleep by thinking about these scenes."

As the hearing continues with the painful testimonies of the victims, the public is waiting with curiosity for the outcome of the case.