Defendant who killed mayor and his bodyguard testifies: I shot at their feet

Erdem Çelebi Şen (37), who was arrested for killing Balışeyh Mayor Hilmi Şen and his bodyguard Mikayil Çelikkol (41), and wounding the official driver Koray Kaya (45) and municipal staff member Ömer Şengül (42) in Kırıkkale, has appeared in court for the first time. The defendant, who is being tried in the 2nd High Criminal Court on charges of "premeditated murder due to the victim's public duty," "intentional murder," and "attempted intentional murder," attended the hearing alongside his lawyers, relatives of the deceased Hilmi Şen and Mikayil Çelikkol, and other victims and complainants.

Testifying at the hearing, the detained defendant Şen claimed that Mayor Hilmi Şen had promised him a job during the March 31, 2024 election period, but that this promise was not kept.

Stating that he wanted to talk to the mayor on the day of the incident, Şen claimed that he used his weapon only with the intention of shooting at their feet. When asked by the presiding judge, "Why did you take a gun with you when you went to talk?", the defendant replied, "I was afraid because he said he would break my arms and legs." Defendant Şen argued that he did not aim at the mayor with the intent to kill at the time of the incident, stating, "The mayor moved to his right to take his gun. I said, 'He is going to shoot me,' so I drew my gun and fired towards his feet. The mayor showed his gun but did not fire.

I fired in the heat of the moment, but my target was his feet. Later, when the mayor collapsed, I took his pistol. Mikail also came, and I told him, 'I have no business with you.' He cursed at me. I did not aim, I don't know how they were hit," he said.

Furthermore, the defendant's social media posts prior to the incident, which contained threats such as "I will take your breath away" and "From this hour on, you will suffer," were also reflected in the case file. The defendant's wife, A.Ş., also stated in her testimony that there was no open hostility, but that her husband was worn out because the promise made to him was not kept.

HE LOST HIS LIFE THE DAY HE STARTED THE JOB

Mikayil Çelikkol's brother, D.Ç., stated that the incident occurred shortly after his brother started the job and filed a complaint.

The wounded official driver, Koray Kaya, stated that he was directly targeted and that he was wounded in the arm while fleeing. Explaining that the defendant had met with the late Mayor Şen at the municipal office 10 days before the incident, Kaya stated that he was filing a complaint against the defendant.

The court panel decided to continue the defendant's detention and adjourned the hearing to May 12.

In his statement, Şamil Kaya, the lawyer for the murdered Mayor Hilmi Şen, stated that there were no circumstances that would reduce the defendant's criminal liability and that they were following the process. Lawyer Kaya said, "There are currently missing testimonies and people who could not attend the hearing. The deficiencies will be completed during this process. We have seen from the first testimonies taken in court for the first hearing that we are of the opinion that none of the institutions regulated under the heading of circumstances reducing the defendant's criminal liability apply to the defendant," he said.