He researched femicide and sentencing before killing his ex-wife: His sentence has been announced

The incident took place on January 4, 2024, on 152/1 Street in the Abdi İpekçi neighborhood. Şefik K. fired 5 shots with a handgun at Tülay Dağaşan (44), whom he had divorced 2 years prior. As the woman collapsed to the ground in a pool of blood, Şefik K. got into his vehicle and fled the scene.

The woman was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved despite all interventions.

Şefik A. turned himself in to police teams on the night of the incident. It was learned that Tülay Dağaşan, who worked in the advertising department of a local television station, had been repeatedly threatened by her ex-husband and that they had 2 children together.

PROSECUTOR DEMANDED AGGRAVATED LIFE IMPRISONMENT

The trial of Şefik K. continued at the Gebze 4th High Criminal Court. The defendant Şefik K., the plaintiffs, and the lawyers for both sides attended the hearing. The public prosecutor reiterated the opinion he had presented at the previous session. The opinion stated that the defendant and his wife had divorced 2 years ago, that there had been arguments between them during their marriage due to issues of infidelity, and that Tülay Dağaşan had started a new life by getting a job after the divorce. It was stated that the defendant constantly followed and harassed Tülay Dağaşan and her private life, could not accept her continuing her life, and decided to kill Tülay Dağaşan, making a plan and obtaining an unlicensed handgun in line with this plan. Furthermore, the opinion noted that the defendant had conducted research on the internet regarding prison conditions and the potential sentence he would receive, prepared a bag for the items he would need during his time in prison, and showed persistence and determination in his decision to kill, not turning back from this decision despite a reasonable amount of time passing until the date of the incident.

The opinion also included a report from the Kocaeli Provincial Police Department's Cyber Crimes Combat Branch. The report stated that the message contents on his phone showed the defendant claimed Tülay Dağaşan had relationships with other men. Additionally, the same report stated that the defendant had researched the penalty for the crime of intentional killing, femicide, and the Kocaeli No. 2 T-Type Closed Penal Execution Institution on the internet.

"I GAVE 28 YEARS OF MY LIFE"

The detained defendant Şefik K., who claimed he was remorseful, said, "I did not want it to happen this way. I felt intense sadness because she cheated on me. Even though I did not want to do this to her, this incident happened because she kept repeating the same things. My wife cheated on me while we were married. My child is a witness to this. She hid everything. I gave 28 years of my life to Tülay. We were married for 22 years. I slept at workplaces for days. I always worked so my family wouldn't have to be beholden to anyone. I didn't deserve this. The judgment belongs to the court; I am very sorry for what I did, I didn't want it to happen this way. I request my release. Tülay met with the man she cheated on me with by saying she was going to work. I didn't want it to happen this way."

AGGRAVATED LIFE IMPRISONMENT

The court panel sentenced the defendant to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "premeditated intentional killing of a divorced spouse." No reductions for provocation or good conduct were applied. Additionally, the defendant was sentenced to 2 years in prison and a judicial fine of 50 days for carrying an unlicensed weapon.

"HER BLOOD WAS NOT LEFT UNAVENGED"

After the hearing, Dağaşan's family and lawyers made a statement. While the family welcomed the decision with applause, Tülay Dağaşan's sister, Nuray Kolsuzoğlu, said, "My sister's blood was not left unavenged. If a good result hadn't come out of the court, I would have gone to the end. I wouldn't have left until my last breath without getting justice for my sister's blood."

"MY CHILD IS NOT COMING BACK"

The victim's mother, Gülbahar Dağaşan, stated that she was happy with the decision, saying, "I trust in justice forever. My child is not coming back, but her blood was not left unavenged. Let the defendant rot in prison for life, let him crawl like a snake. May God make him suffer a thousand times the pain I feel. The decision has brought some relief to my heart again."

"I LOVED MY EX-WIFE"

The victim's family lawyer, Semra Yıldız, said, "We are very happy with the decision. The fact that the Turkish judiciary has made crimes against women a qualified offense a year ago, and that the law has changed in this sense, are very promising developments for the Turkish judiciary and law. As a lawyer, a woman, and a mother, I am proud. The defendant received an aggravated life sentence. Even though the defendant said 'She cheated on me' exactly 20 times and 'I loved my ex-wife' 18 times during the hearing, the panel sentenced him to life imprisonment for premeditated murder, in accordance with the prosecutor's opinion, without granting any reduction. We welcomed this decision positively and with happiness. We are happy, we are proud. May Tulays and mothers not be killed again, may children not be left motherless again; may women not be buried in the ground. We are here, we continue the struggle."