Reasoned decision announced in Esenyurt liquor store murder case

The reasoned decision has been announced in the liquor store murder case that occurred in Esenyurt, Istanbul, on July 28, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of two people. The 150-page decision, prepared by the Bakırköy 2nd High Criminal Court, detailed the background of the murder.

The decision stated that there was a long-standing debt dispute between the company owned by defendants Tarık and Murat Özer and the company of Cantürk Erzen, the father of the victim Yunus Emre Erzen. It was noted that the defendants had initiated enforcement proceedings against the Erzen family, after which Cantürk Erzen made social media posts containing insults about the defendants.

WHERE IS THE FATHER? ARGUMENT TURNS INTO MURDER

On the day of the incident, Tarık and Murat Özer, having become aware of the social media posts, went to the liquor store accompanied by Tarık Özer's son, Azat Özer, and his cousin, Servet Özer. At that time, the victim Yunus Emre Erzen, his cousin Yusuf Erzen, and Batuhan Bayındır were inside.

It was stated that the defendants asked Yunus Emre Erzen where his father, Cantürk Erzen, was and demanded that he call him. However, the atmosphere became tense when the victim refused this request and tried to ask why they had come.

DETAILS OF THE MURDER

The reasoned decision stated that Murat Özer applied pressure by squeezing the shoulder of the victim, Yunus Emre Erzen, and that the victim pushed Murat Özer's hand away. It was explained that upon this action, Murat Özer grabbed Yunus Emre by the throat, pushed him into a shelf containing alcohol bottles, and then struck him hard on the head with a glass bottle.

At this point, it was stated that Yunus Emre Erzen took a pistol from under the counter and fired twice at Murat Özer's feet, and the incident suddenly turned into a brawl. It was noted that Tarık Özer drew his weapon and fired multiple times at the victim, while at the same time, Murat and Azat Özer attempted to restrain the victim.

It was also recorded that Tarık Özer fired his weapon at Batuhan Bayındır and Yusuf Erzen. As a result of the incident, it was stated that 9 bullets hit the body of Yunus Emre Erzen and 2 bullets hit the body of Batuhan Bayındır, and both lost their lives. The reasoned decision also included that Yusuf Erzen was injured in a way that caused bone fractures.

In its reasoned decision, the court stated that the defendants Murat, Tarık, Azat, and Servet Özer had a threatening attitude from the moment they entered the liquor store, that they committed the crime together by planning it and with the same intent, that they facilitated each other's actions, and that they exercised joint control over the crime.

In this context, it was recorded that the four defendants were each sentenced to two life terms in prison for the 'intentional killing' of victims Yunus Emre Erzen and Batuhan Bayındır. Additionally, each was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the crime of 'attempted intentional killing'.

SENTENCES ALSO GIVEN FOR WEAPONS AND AIDING A CRIMINAL

The decision also stated that Tarık and Azat Özer were sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison each for 'carrying and possessing an unlicensed firearm', and the other 4 defendants were each sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for 'aiding a criminal'.

PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY: “PREMEDITATED MURDER, WE WILL APPEAL”

Kerim Bahadır Şeker, the attorney for the victim Yunus Emre Erzen's father, Cantürk Erzen, evaluated the reasoned decision. Şeker said, “Although the sentences given to the defendants appear to be 59 years in total, according to the execution system, the aggravated life sentences and life sentences amount to 74 years in total. For this reason, we will file our appeal.”

News Source: 12punto