31 privates sentenced to life imprisonment for coup attempt released: 'They fell into an inevitable error'

The trial regarding the actions taken during the coup attempt, including the raid on Türk Telekom and the martyrdom of 6 people, including Acıbadem Neighborhood Headman Mete Sertbaş, was heard at the Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court, and the verdict was announced on April 20, 2018.

The court had sentenced 7 ranking defendants to 7 counts of aggravated life imprisonment each for the crimes of "violating the constitution" and "intentional killing," and had sentenced 28 privates to life imprisonment for the same crimes, while also sentencing 5 privates to life and fixed-term imprisonment for the crimes of "violating the constitution" and "deprivation of liberty." The court had decided to acquit 1 private.

The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation had upheld the life sentences given to 33 privates for the crime of "violating the constitution," while issuing a decision of partial upholding and partial reversal regarding the "intentional killing" charges.

Following the upholding decision, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation appealed the conviction decisions against the 33 privates. In its appeal, the Prosecutor's Office requested the reversal of the judgments on the grounds that "there was insufficient evidence regarding the accusation of intentional killing by directly firing at citizens" and that the defendants had "fallen into an inevitable error" regarding the crime of "violating the constitution."

Reviewing the file, the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation found the appeal well-founded, overturned the judgments against 31 of the privates, and ordered their release. The files concerning the other 2 privates will be decided at a later date.

The reasoning for the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation's decision regarding the reversal and release will be written later.

News Source: AA