Defendant who stabbed his ex-wife 15 times released: She told me 'you should have been a man'

The incident occurred on February 1, 2025, on Halide Edip Adıvar Street in the Şirinköy neighborhood. Tuba Y. (30) was stabbed multiple times in the middle of the street by her ex-husband, Tuncay H. (38), whom she had divorced one week prior to the incident.

Neighbors who witnessed the moment attempted to lynch the individual with sticks. The woman, who got up from the ground and tried to push away the citizens attempting to lynch her ex-husband, said, "He is the father of my children."

Police teams arriving at the scene fired shots into the air to rescue Tuncay H. from the crowd and took him into custody. After completing procedures at the police station, Tuncay H. was referred to the courthouse and arrested by the court.

The indictment prepared regarding the incident stated that the parties had divorced by mutual agreement on January 24, and that Tuba Y. sustained 15 stab wounds and bone fractures on her body due to the incident.

Defendant released

The 4th hearing of the case held at the Kocaeli 3rd High Criminal Court was attended by the detained defendant Tuncay H., who is being tried for "attempted intentional murder of a woman and an ex-spouse," and the lawyers of the parties. Given the floor at the hearing, defendant Tuncay H. stated that he reiterated the statements he gave in previous sessions.

Announcing its decision, the court panel ruled for the defendant's release, taking into account the time he had spent in custody. The panel, which imposed a travel ban and a signature obligation on the defendant, also prohibited Tuncay H. from approaching the complainant's home and workplace by more than 500 meters and adjourned the hearing.

"She told me 'You should have been a man'"

On the other hand, the defendant had made the following statements regarding the day of the incident in his defense during the first hearing:

"On the day of the incident, my ex-wife was going to come to me to see the children. My child is an epilepsy patient, so I had bought a GPS-enabled wristwatch so that I could track my children when necessary. When my son couldn't find the wristwatch, I didn't think to send the child until it was found.

Upon this, my daughter told her mother about it. Her mother must have been angered by this situation and said to me, 'I will take the children from you then, you will see how children are not shown.' I don't remember if she had arrived in front of the house at that time. I went outside so the children wouldn't hear these things and asked why she was doing this. I said, 'The child is sick, how will we track the child if there is no GPS device?'

We argued. I said, 'You are not ashamed of what you have done, and you are also threatening me. If you were going to take them, why did you give the children in court?' We argued like this. She was saying, 'I did not cheat on you.' I said, 'You were going to prove yourself to me,' and she told me, 'You should have been a man.' I got angry at this remark, and I don't remember anything after that moment. I had a pocket knife in my pocket that my wife had given me as a gift.

I always carried it with me because it had screwdriver and pliers features. I hadn't taken it with me specifically for that moment; I don't remember how I stabbed her at that moment. I came to my senses for a moment during the incident. When I saw the blood on my hands, I threw the knife in my hand to the ground. When the people around attacked me, I shouted, 'Leave me alone, help her, call an ambulance.' I am remorseful; I request my acquittal and release."