Family reacts to release decision in fatal accident: 'It wasn't an accident, it was murder'

Irmak Çulha (22), who was critically injured on the evening of June 27 when she was struck by a car driver who ran a red light and exceeded the speed limit while she was trying to cross a 3-lane road, lost her 2-day struggle for life at the KSU Faculty of Medicine. The driver, F.S., was initially arrested but was released after 4.5 months. Reacting to the decision, the young girl's grieving mother, Hanım Culha, said, "My daughter was murdered by a monster with a criminal record, even though she hadn't violated any rules and had no fault of her own.

WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP FROM JUSTICE

I say murdered because this was not an accident, it was a murder. But he served 4.5 months and is walking around outside despite killing an innocent soul. Right now, he might kill other Irmaks. We are asking for help from justice; we said 'we take refuge in them,' we said 'we trust them,' but he was released, and we do not want this. Everyone should pay for their crime. My young child is lying in a grave. He is walking around freely outside, and we do not want this from our justice system. My child had dreams; she was preparing for the District Governorship exam and had goals. She used to say, 'I will be a District Governor.'"

MY IRMAK'S LIGHT HAS GONE OUT, MAY NO OTHER IRMAKS' LIGHTS GO OUT

The grieving brother of the unfortunate young girl who lost her life in the accident, Çağlar Culha, said, "My sister Irmak was killed by a monster, a murderer, an inhumane person named Furkan. According to the accident footage obtained, it was also included in witness statements that the murderer was weaving through traffic with his vehicle at the lights before the point where he hit my sister. He hit my sister by running a red light at the pedestrian crossing. Reports stated that he was 100 percent at fault for pressing the gas instead of the brake the moment he hit my sister Irmak, accelerating even further. However, he was released after the hearing held today at the Kahramanmaraş 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance, before he had even completed his 5th month. It is a murder of justice that he was given a sentence for simple negligence instead of probable intent. He can walk the streets so comfortably right now; perhaps he is on the streets of Kahramanmaraş right now to extinguish another Irmak, another set of dreams. My sister was a person full of life. She loved living life beautifully, she had dreams. She was working day and night to become a District Governor. I want the monster to receive the heaviest sentence. My Irmak's light has gone out, may no other Irmaks' lights go out."

WE WILL FOLLOW THE CASE

One of the family's lawyers, Muhammed Sönmez, stated, "We believe that the sentence given to the perpetrator of the late Irmak Culha, who we believe fell victim to murder under the guise of an accident despite all warnings and signs, is insufficient, that the decision will create a perception of impunity in society, and we will closely follow the matter to ensure that criminals are rehabilitated and to provide some solace to the client's family."

Lawyer Tayfun Barış Aslan said, "The driver, who caused the death of young Irmak by running a red light and not slowing down or braking while passing through a pedestrian crossing, which is evident in the camera footage, unfortunately received a sentence for involuntary manslaughter. While the prosecutor's office had prepared an indictment for conscious negligence and requested the continuation of his detention, we, as the lawyers for Irmak's family, requested that he be sentenced based on probable intent. None of these were evaluated; he was sentenced as if it were an accident while driving on a normal road."

News Source: 12punto