Police officer who shot friend while demonstrating service weapon sentenced to 16 years: 'I was just going to show a few moves and leave'

On October 9, 2024, in Bakırköy, special operations police officer Ahmet Ç. (31) met with his friend Kadir Özkök (31). While Ahmet Ç. was explaining how to fire his service weapon, the gun discharged, resulting in Özkök being shot and losing his life.

The hearing held at the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court was attended by the detained defendant Ahmet Ç., the complainant mother of the deceased, Ayşe Özkök, the complainant brother, Hazar Özkök, and the lawyers for both parties.

In her statement at the hearing, complainant Ayşe Özkök said, "I trust Turkish justice; I want justice and a sentence of aggravated life imprisonment. My previous illness has relapsed during this process, and I want my other child who is still alive to be safe."

"My intention was to show a few moves because of Kadir's interest in the weapon, and then go home"

In his defense at the hearing, the detained defendant Ahmet Ç. stated, "My only goal is to explain the truth. I have been crying for a year and a half. I cannot make my defense; they are attacking me. The deceased was my brother, my friend. I did not threaten anyone. I was involved in a firefight shortly before this accident. Because I am single, I shielded myself and sustained damage. The investigation into that matter is still ongoing. I placed the weapon from my waist on the furthest table. He touched the weapon; if I had seen that, I would have told him to stay away from it. This situation is confirmed by camera footage. I did not have contact with the weapon on the day of the incident. The subject of weapons did not come up between Kadir and me. My intention on the day of the incident was to show a few moves because of Kadir's interest in the weapon, and then go home," he said, requesting his acquittal.

16 years and 8 months in prison with good conduct reduction

Following the defense and statements, the court panel announced its verdict, initially sentencing defendant Ahmet Ç. to life imprisonment for 'intentional killing,' then reducing it to 20 years in prison on the grounds that the crime was committed with 'eventual intent.' The panel applied a good conduct reduction to this sentence, ruling that the defendant be sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison and that his detention continue.

From the indictment

In the indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Kadir Özkök was listed as the 'victim' and Ahmet Ç. as the 'suspect.' The indictment stated that the investigation was initiated following a 'shooting injury' report received by law enforcement units around 01:19 on the night of the incident, and that law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. It was reported that suspect Ahmet Ç. told the police who arrived at the scene that he and his friend, the victim, were spending time together, that the gun went off while he was providing information about it, that the victim was injured, that he tried to help, and that he himself called the 112 emergency service. The criminal report included in the indictment stated that gunshot residue was found on the suspect's hands, and the expert report determined that the suspect was not under the influence of alcohol. The autopsy report of the victim stated that the victim's death was caused by a single bullet that entered the left thoracic cavity. The indictment noted that suspect Ahmet Ç. was detained on the day of the incident, October 9, 2024, and that judicial control measures were applied to him. The indictment requested that the suspect police officer Ahmet Ç. be sentenced to up to 9 years in prison for 'causing death by conscious negligence.'