Court announces decision regarding Timur Cihantimur, who was captured in the US

Following his mother Eylem Tok, Timur Cihantimur appeared before a judge, and it was decided that he would remain in custody, with his next hearing scheduled for June 20.

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Court announces decision regarding Timur Cihantimur, who was captured in the US

17-year-old Timur Cihantimur, who caused the death of Oğuz Murat Aci while driving without a license in Istanbul on March 1, appeared before a judge at the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse in Boston, following his mother Eylem Tok.

Cihantimur, who was brought to the courtroom in a light gray jumpsuit, was present in the courtroom without handcuffs.

The judge presiding over the case regarding Cihantimur's extradition to Turkey decided, after hearing statements from Cihantimur's lawyer and the prosecutor, that Cihantimur would remain in custody and that his next hearing would be held on June 20.

Cihantimur's lawyer requested that his location be changed, claiming that the juvenile detention center where Cihantimur is being held has poor conditions. Following the hearing, Cihantimur was removed from the courtroom under heavy security measures.

According to a report by Mehmet Sümer from Voice of America, two different lawyers, separate from those representing his mother Eylem Tok, were present at Cihantimur's hearing. Cihantimur was brought into the courtroom wearing a beige prisoner jumpsuit and without handcuffs.

The lawyers stated that Timur Cihantimur was unhappy with the facility in Connecticut where he is being held with other juvenile offenders of a similar age, arguing that the conditions were unsuitable for him and requesting his release or a more urgent solution.

LAWYERS' FREQUENT EMPHASIS ON 'AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP' DREW ATTENTION

During the hearing, Cihantimur's lawyer frequently emphasized that Timur Cihantimur is an American citizen, stating that if released, he wishes to continue his education in the United States and build a life for himself.

The judge initially stated that he would postpone the hearing to June 27, the same day as his mother's, to review the file; however, upon the lawyers' request for an earlier date, the judge rescheduled the hearing for June 20 at 3:30 PM.

"I HOPE HIS EXTRADITION TO TURKEY TAKES PLACE"

Lütfiye Çiçek, a cousin of Oğuz Murat Aci's father Özer Aci, stated after Cihantimur's hearing, "Seeing Timur Cihantimur before the judge in the courtroom brought us some relief. I hope the US justice system does what is necessary and carries out his extradition to Turkey."

EYLEM TOK WILL ALSO BE TRIED WHILE IN CUSTODY

The court also ruled that Cihantimur's mother, Eylem Tok, will remain in custody, with her next hearing set for June 27.

Meanwhile, Cihantimur is sought for extradition to Turkey on charges of "causing death and injury by negligence," while his mother, Eylem Tok, is sought for "harboring a criminal." Cihantimur, who was not tried in the same hearing as his mother, was tried separately due to his US citizenship and the existence of two separate extradition requests from Turkey.

News Source: İHA