Münevver Karabulut's father speaks out after decision to exhume grave: 'Our conscience will be at ease'

On March 3, 2009, in Bahçeşehir, Istanbul, 17-year-old Münevver Karabulut was brutally murdered by Cem Garipoğlu. It was announced that Cem Garipoğlu, who murdered Karabulut, had ended his life by committing suicide in the prison where he was being held, 5 years after his arrest.

Münevver Karabulut's father, Süreyya Karabulut, had filed a criminal complaint with the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office through his lawyer, Dr. Rezan Epözdemir, claiming that Cem Garipoğlu did not commit suicide in prison, but had escaped or been helped to escape. The request made by the family's lawyers was accepted by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a "fethi kabir" (exhumation) order regarding Münevver Karabulut's murderer, Cem Garipoğlu. According to the decision, Garipoğlu's grave will be opened and a DNA test will be performed.

Speaking to Sabah Newspaper after the decision to exhume the grave, Münevver Karabulut's father, Süreyya Karabulut, stated that he had not been able to sleep for 15 years and said, "We are very happy that such a decision has been taken. The opening of the grave will ease our conscience."

Süreyya Karabulut said the following:

"I had a moral debt to my daughter. I saw the opening of the grave as impossible. But my lawyer achieved this. I had a great doubt inside me. This doubt will now be revealed. We are very happy that such a decision has been taken. The opening of the grave will ease our conscience. The public conscience will be relieved to some extent. I would like to thank my lawyer Rezan Epözdemir very much."

News Source: 12punto