Family seeks justice in Fadim Temirhanoğulları murder case

Sinem Nazlı Demir - 12punto.com.tr

In the fourth hearing of the trial of Savaş Temirhanoğulları (48), who murdered his estranged wife Fadim Temirhanoğulları (52) in Antalya on September 12, 2024, by firing 9 shots with a handgun, Fikret İnal, one of the defendants previously tried without arrest, was also arrested.

The court also decided to take blood samples from both defendants to compare them with the male DNA detected under the victim's fingernails. In the hearing held at the Antalya 1st High Criminal Court, an expert report submitted to the court analyzed in detail the footage reflected on the security cameras around the site on the night of the incident. It was noted that the vehicle with license plate 07 ETZ 17 arrived in front of the Aliyenur Site at 04:18 on the morning of September 12, that the individuals who got out of the vehicle entered the site at 04:22, and that they left the scene at 04:27 by getting back into the vehicle.

The report also drew attention to the time synchronization between the crime scene and the security cameras. Making a statement on behalf of the Children and Women First Association after the hearing, the victim's lawyer Yağmur Burçin Sayın said, "Today we attended Fadim's third hearing. Fikret İnal, one of the other defendants, was arrested. This is an important development because we have been fighting for this until now. The court finally saw our justification. He had not come to the hearing before and an arrest warrant had been issued; when he came today, he was arrested."

Speaking to 12Punto, the lawyer for the case and president of the Children and Women First Association, Müjde Tozbey, shared important details regarding Fadim's file.

'UNJUST PROVOCATION REDUCTION SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED'

Lawyer Müjde Tozbey pointed out that the defendant Savaş Temirhanoğulları made statements in his defense aimed at receiving an unjust provocation reduction, saying, "He constantly presented justifications such as 'Fadim cheated on me' and 'she insulted me before she died.' However, there is no evidence in the file to support these claims. Since he cannot present evidence, he tries to get a provocation reduction with expressions like 'I was provoked'."

Tozbey stated that these defenses are frequently encountered in femicide cases and said, "We are against the dilution of justice with rhetoric that portrays women as people who 'cannot keep their mouths shut' or 'provoke' others. The court did not give credence to these lies in Fadim's file either."

'FADIM WAS FOLLOWED FOR MONTHS, SUBJECTED TO VIOLENCE'

Reminding that Fadim Temirhanoğulları went to the police station multiple times to ask for help before she was murdered, Tozbey said, "Fadim told both law enforcement and those around her many times that she was being followed by Savaş and that she was subjected to violence. Despite obtaining a protection order, she could not be protected. For this reason, not only the perpetrator but also the state mechanism that failed to fulfill its duty of protection is responsible."

Stating that Fadim told her daughters, "If I die, your father killed me," Tozbey added, "If a person is not living even while they are alive, this system must be questioned."

'DOOR WAS FORCED BUT NO EXPLANATION'

Stating that on the night the murder took place, Savaş Temirhanoğulları came to Fadim's house around 04:00 with an individual accompanying him and entered by forcing the door, Müjde Tozbey said, "There are signs of forced entry on the door. However, they cannot provide any explanation as to why they were there at that hour and why they forced the door. This person was being tried without arrest until today, but now he has been arrested. The court finally saw these contradictions."

'FOCUS ON THE KILLER, NOT THE PAST OF WOMEN'

Emphasizing that in femicide cases, the perpetrator, not the victim, should be questioned, Tozbey said, "A murdered woman can no longer defend herself. Despite this, the past of women is being dug up. This is contrary to both law and conscience. No one has the right to kill someone else because they are jealous, have been abandoned, or think they have been betrayed."

'WE ARE FIGHTING TO ENSURE JUSTICE'

Stating that as the Children and Women First Association, they will follow Fadim's case to the end, Müjde Tozbey said, "The next hearing is on June 24. We believe a good decision will come out of it. We are fighting to keep women alive. We will not give up on Fadim's struggle."

News Source: Sinem Nazlı Demir