Second day of the Narin Güran trial concludes: Hearings to continue tomorrow

The trial regarding the murder of Narin Güran, which has been closely followed by Turkey, continues today. The detained defendants have been brought to the courthouse.

The first hearing of the trial for the murder of Narin Güran, who was reported missing on August 21 in the Tavşantepe neighborhood of Diyarbakır's Bağlar district and whose body was found 19 days later, began yesterday (November 7).

The first hearing at the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court lasted exactly 14 hours. During the hearing, detained defendants Nevzat Bahtiyar, brother Enes Güran, mother Yüksel Güran, and uncle Salim Güran were heard, along with father Arif Güran, who participated as a 'complainant,' and witness Gazal Bahtiyar. 

DEFENDANTS AND WITNESSES BROUGHT IN

In the first hearing of the case, which is being followed by all of Turkey, the defendants presented their defenses. The defendants, who face aggravated life imprisonment, generally responded to questions with answers like 'I don't know' or 'I don't remember.'

On the second day of the trial, 4 defendants and 26 witnesses were brought to the Diyarbakır Courthouse under heavy security measures.

The defendants and witnesses entered the courtroom one by one. First, Arif Güran arrived, followed by Enes Güran. Then, mother Yüksel Güran entered, wearing the same black clothes she wore yesterday. Afterward, Salim Güran and Nevzat Bahtiyar were brought in. Narin's brother, Baran Güran, who is not in custody, was called to the courtroom.

Brother Baran Güran took the stand as a witness.

Presiding Judge: Your mother, uncle, and brother are the defendants; you have the right not to testify.

Baran: I will testify.

I work in Erzurum. Around 7 or 8 o'clock, my brother Muhammet called and said Narin was missing. I came home, they had gathered near the mosque, and then I called 112.

Judge: A camera was installed at your uncle's house, and a secret meeting was held.

Baran: Would a secret meeting be held in a house? They were saying the Minister is coming, clear the house. The Minister was coming; if it were a secret meeting, it wouldn't be held in the village.

Judge: The fight among the women.

Baran: I was not there.

Judge: The women's mouths are being covered so they don't speak.

Baran: Everyone is tense.

Judge: It has been said that the women remarked, 'The men did it, why are you staying silent?'

Baran: Everyone is tense; it was said out of that tension.

Judge: Did you hear anything about Narin being kidnapped or killed?

Baran: It was said that a car arrived on the day of the incident; a car had come, so we said she had been kidnapped.

We went to the sheikh; he said if she had died, I would have known, and that she had been kidnapped, so we thought she was kidnapped.

Former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren asks:

- While we were conducting the interrogation, you were outside; did Salim Güran say to you, 'What are you after?' 

I am pursuing the same thing that Baran is pursuing.

----At this moment, father Arif Güran began to cry again.----

Lawyer: Mr. Arif, please, I must state what I am pursuing; my goal, even if it costs me my life as a father of three children,

I am pursuing the murderer of Narin, who smelled so sweet.

That is why, Baran, I did not let you see your sister at the forensic medicine institute, so you wouldn't catch that scent, so that you would only remember her sweet smell.

Arif Güran began to shout and speak in Kurdish.

Baran Güran attempted to walk toward him.

Baran stopped his father.

Arif Güran was removed from the courtroom after shouting, 'My daughter has been murdered, what are you talking about?'

Members of the Güran family following the hearing protested against Nahit Eren and

'We do not want him,' they said.

Defense attorneys also reacted, stating, 'A trial cannot be conducted this way.'

The presiding judge approached the Güran family members in the gallery and is attempting to calm them down.

The courtroom has descended into chaos.

The judge told the lawyers, 'You must ask your questions directly.'

He added, 'If they are not asked directly, I will have you removed from the courtroom.'

Nahit Eren began his questioning by apologizing;

- I told you, 'Let's bury Narin somewhere else.' What did you say to me?

- No matter what, she should be buried in her own village, but...

- Let me remind you; didn't you say, 'No one has a say in this matter except for me and my father'?

- I did. Where are you trying to lead me?

You kept her at the forensic medicine institute for 7 hours; as a wounded brother, I said let my father decide.

- You said, 'Whoever killed her should be punished. Even if it's my family, even if it's Nevzat, they should be punished.' You gave me power of attorney for this.

Defense attorneys objected, stating that the attorney-client relationship is confidential and such questions cannot be asked.

The presiding judge "the defense attorneys' objection is correct" said

Following this, Baran did not respond.

The lawyer asked about the camera footage of his meeting with his brother Enes in prison

Baran: The camera footage spread widely; I don't know how it leaked. I told my brother to stand tall to give him morale. Should we leave him abandoned just because he is in prison?

The Ministry of Family and Social Services lawyer asks Baran Güran;

Lawyer: What do you think happened?

Baran: We thought my sister had been kidnapped.

Lawyer: Your sister was searched for for 19 days. Your family provided misleading information; what do you have to say about that?

Baran: My family has never had any dealings with the police station, so they may have given incorrect statements.

Lawyer: Does Enes use drugs, or is he prone to violence?

Baran: There is absolutely no such thing.

Lawyer: He bit his arm.

Baran: I also hit my arm against the wall; are you aware of that? This is a normal situation.

Lawyer: What do you think about Nevzat, for example, is he a friend of your family?

Baran: We haven't spoken for a long time, we knew that.

The defense attorney asks;

Attorney: Did Nevzat give money to any other child besides Narin?

Baran: He did not. We asked children of the same age; he only gave money to Narin.

Lawyer: Do you think Nevzat could have committed this murder as a result of an argument with your father?

Baran: It is possible. Nevzat is very cold-blooded, as if he had committed 50 murders.

Judge: Baran, you said, 'Nevzat gave money.' Why didn't you suspect anything at that time?

Baran: It could be normal.

Judge: I am asking this because you said he was 'cold-blooded, as if he had committed a murder.'

Baran: When a person commits a murder for the first time, they would be afraid, but he came to my father's side; he was that cold-blooded.

Salim Güran's lawyer asks;

- Did Ali Rıza Güran offer money to the Bahtiyar family?

Baran: Never, never.

Lawyer: How was Salim Güran acting?

Baran: My uncle was constantly searching alongside the gendarmerie.

Lawyer: Does Salim Güran beat his nieces and nephews?

Baran: Never, he never beats them.

Lawyer: It is alleged that there was a relationship between your uncle and your mother. What would Enes have done if he had seen it? 

Baran

: He would have shot them in the head.Baran Güran's questioning has concluded.

Narin's cousin, Osman Güran, is on the witness stand;

Judge

The judge asks the witness to provide his testimony.; How did you find out that Narin was missing?

Osman: I was working at the factory when it was said that Narin was missing. I live in the center, and when I went there, I saw Enes.

Judge: A slipper was found during the searches the next day.

--An ambulance arrived for Arif Güran--

Medical personnel are providing intervention outside the courtroom.-----

Osman: Muhammet picked up the slipper on the village road and put it in the car. He brought it to me, and I sent a photo of it to Baran.

Judge: Isn't it very strange that he didn't report finding the slipper?

Osman: I don't know, that's what he said. When he said Muhammet found it, we went there by car.

The prosecutor asks; 

Is it normal that they spotted the slipper while driving by and picked it up, when you had passed by that spot six times and didn't see it?

Osman: I did not see it. That is how Muhammet found it.

Prosecutor: Your mother blamed Yüksel during the fight between the women.

Osman: I do not know.

Defense attorneys ask;

Did I receive any mistreatment from law enforcement?

Osman: We were subjected to treatment such as being held against a flat wall and having our fingernails pulled.

Judge: Why didn't you file a complaint?

Osman: We wanted Narin's killer to be found.

Lawyer: Was there any bruising around Enes's eyes?

Osman: It wasn't there, I didn't see it.

Arif Güran was taken to the hospital.

Osman's testimony has concluded.

Muhammet Kaya, one of the detained defendants, appeared as a witness.

Muhammet: Enes is my cousin. 

Salim is my uncle.

I woke up that morning and was distributing invitations.

Devran Güran informed us at 8 PM that Narin was missing. We went to search for her.

Judge: Let's come to the day you found the slipper.

Muhammet: I saw the slipper while I was going to buy milk, but I passed it by. I bought the milk, and on the way back, I saw the slipper again and decided to pick it up.

Judge: Hundreds of people passed by there.

How did you see it when no one else did? Could someone else have told you about it?

Muhammet: I took the slipper and went home. There was going to be a meeting at the house, the commander was shouting, and I wanted to help him. Then we got into the car; Osman noticed the slipper in the car and said, 'Let's send it to Baran,' so he sent the photo.

Judge: Forgetting the slipper is a bit strange; perhaps that is why you are under arrest. Why didn't you show it to everyone?

Muhammet: I forgot in that panic.

When Yüksel showed the slipper, I said it might be it, that it was a girl's slipper, but then we looked and the size was different. We realized it wasn't Narin's.

Prosecutor: Salim sent you somewhere with someone you didn't know on the 22nd.

Where is that place?

Muhammet: I don't know, maybe my uncle sent me with someone from intelligence.

Muhammet Kaya stated that he was beaten while in custody. 

- They beat me for 9 hours. 

The Gendarmerie called me "murderer" he said.

The testimony of Muhammet Kaya has been completed. Maşallah Güran, the aunt of the victim and one of the detained defendants, appeared as a witness; 

AUNT'S TESTIMONY TAKEN

Judge: Where is your house?

Maşallah: In the village.

Judge: Where exactly?

Maşallah: Under the hill.

Judge: What is the distance from Arif's house?

Maşallah: I don't know.

Judge: Can you see the Arif family's house from your home?

Maşallah: No.

Judge: Yüksel comes to you first, right, asking where Narin is?

Maşallah: Yes.

Judge: Did you see any activity at Yüksel's house between 15:15 and 15:30?

Maşallah: I did not see any.

Judge: Can you see Nevzat's house?

Maşallah: I cannot.

Judge: Didn't you hear any movement?

Maşallah: I did not.

Judge: Why did the fight break out among the women?

Maşallah: On the day Narin was found, Commander Hülya came and told Yüksel 'my condolences,' and Yüksel... "You promised me, where is my Narin?" she said. They took her into the ambulance, and I said, 'May God damn whoever killed that Narin.' They told me, 'If you know anything, tell us.'

Judge: "Everyone knows everything, don't make me talk" is what you said.

Maşallah: No, I didn't say that.

Judge: Did anyone silence your daughter?

Maşallah: No, they did not.

Judge: Did Salim direct you to give false testimony?

Maşallah: No, he did not.

Judge: You stated the wrong time for Narin.

Maşallah: My daughter told me she would come to us. In fact, Mina had come, but it slipped my mind. At 17:40, Mina arrived; I thought it was Narin. I was constantly thinking about her. Narin was my child too.

Judge: In the video from that day, Narin came to you at 14:00, she is running.

What did she see?

Maşallah: She didn't see anything.

Judge: Did Salim come to your house during those hours?

Maşallah: He came around 6:00 PM and kissed the hand of his uncle, Hüseyin Güran.

Judge: Could Salim have killed Narin? Was there any panic?

Maşallah: None.

Judge: Do you know Nevzat?

Maşallah: He is our neighbor. Things won't be good from now on.

Judge: Salim, Yüksel, and Enes are also on trial.

Maşallah: Let the camera footage be released.

Judge: Is there a possibility that Nevzat killed someone?

Maşallah: No, not until today. 

Judge: Could Salim, Yüksel, and Enes have killed her? 

Maşallah: No, they wouldn't even lay a finger on her.

Judge: Where exactly is Yüksel searching around 15:30?

Maşallah: I didn't hear or see what they were doing at that time; Yüksel went up to the hill to look for her child when she went missing.

The Ministry of Family lawyer asks;

Lawyer: Who killed this girl and why?

Maşallah: I didn't think about it. We all thought she was just missing.

The presiding judge gave Yüksel, Enes, and Salim Güran the right to speak, "Do you wish to ask any questions?" he asked. 

The detained defendant Enes Güran requested to ask a question.

Enes Güran asks his aunt-in-law Maşallah Güran;

Enes: Aunt, when you went out to search for Narin when she went missing, didn't you see me on the hill next to you?

Maşallah: I did not see you.

At that moment Salim Güran's voice rose; May God damn those who slander us.

Maşallah Güran also "a thousand times, a thousand times" she said, offering her support.

The defense attorney asks Maşallah Güran: 

Attorney: There was tension between Arif and Nevzat over a vehicle. Later, Nevzat Bahtiyar's wife, Gazal Bahtiyar, said,'I do not forgive them; we paid the money and were left in a difficult situation,' she said.

Maşallah: Nothing like that happened in my house.

Lawyer: After Narin went missing, did Gazal Bahtiyar say, "We are going to leave this place." ?

Maşallah: No. I want to say this: the day before the fire broke out, we were at Yüksel's place; Yüksel was crying, and I gave her a cigarette. "I had a dream that the village was burning," she said. The next day, the village burned. How could something like this happen? 

The Presiding Judge intervened: "Sure, sure, there is such a thing as a dream world." 

Out of 26 witnesses, 5 have been heard so far. The remaining 21 witnesses include children who are Narin's friends and peers. 

The child witnesses are participating in the hearing remotely via the SEGBİS system. 

Currently, child M.E.G. is being heard. 

Questions are being asked in the presence of a psychologist.

The pedagogue asks child M.E.G.:

Narin went to the mosque that day. Who was at home, and what happened? Can you tell us?

M.E.G.: After Narin left, I played games with my brother Enes. We were playing on my mother's phone, and he was also playing on my mother's phone. We played two rounds and then stopped.

- Around what time was this?

- I don't remember the time.

- Did you sleep at home until 16:30?

- Around that time, I went down to the grocery store. 

- Let me ask again; you played PUBG. Who was at home when you woke up?

- My mother was there, and Eren was there.

- When did your brother leave the house?

- I don't know.

- Did you see your aunt Hediye? 

- I didn't see her arrive.

- How do you know she arrived?

- Eren said so.

- What did he say?

- He said he saw her.

- Where did you go after that?

- I went to the grocery store.

- Who was there?

- My brother was there.

- When I was going home, my brother Enes was there, they were talking.

- What were they talking about? 

- I don't know, Ufuk Kaya was there. 

- My brother didn't have slippers, he told Osman, 'Bring me slippers when you come back.' Then Osman went to Dörtyol to look for slippers. At that moment, my mother left the table and said, 'Go call Narin.'

Then I climbed onto the sofa and asked through the window, 'Melike, is Narin there?' She said, 'No.'

Then my mother left, and my aunt-in-law Maşallah was there.

Then she called my aunt-in-law Hediye. I went to their house. I asked, 'Is Narin there?' She said, 'No.'

- Around what time was this? 

- It had gotten dark.

- Where was your uncle Salim? 

- I saw him near the school.

- Didn't you see him at all before the school? 

- Who?

- Your uncle Salim.

- No, I didn't see him. Later we went to his house, and Gizem and the others opened the door.

- Isn't Nevzat's house very close, too?

- We didn't go there. 

- Well, didn't they hear you while you were searching?

- Yavuz.

- Did you say anything to them? 

- Halit Zeyno was there, I said we are looking for Narin.

- Did anyone open the door when Hediye arrived at the house?

- Eren opened the door. I was sleeping inside; my mother was on the sofa, and my brother Enes was sleeping on the other sofa.

When Hediye came for the second time 

I woke up around 16:30, and my aunt Hediye had arrived.

- How do you remember the time so clearly?

- The sun had not yet set.

- Did anyone enter the house that day?

- My uncle Muzaffer came for breakfast in the morning.

- Did your uncle Salim come?

- He did not come; if he had, I would have heard their voices.

- Was the door of the room where you were sleeping closed?

- No, it was open. 

- Was Enes's phone charging?

- No, it was open. 

- How was Enes behaving that day? Did you see the bite mark on your brother?

- I did not see it, I have no information.

- Can Narin enter the house by herself? 

- She does; if she couldn't open the door, she would knock.

- Did they get angry at Enes after Narin went missing? "She went missing because of you" they said?

- Nothing like that happened.

Tension in the courtroom increased.

The Presiding Judge canceled the testimony of Narin's 6-year-old sibling.

Pedagogue: Did your mother ever come to you? When you and Enes were together?

Child M.E.G.: No. I have something to say. Eren won't sit still, he keeps wanting to leave, I wanted to mention that.

Defense Attorney: A little sensitivity, please.

Presiding Judge: Alright, last question.

At that moment, Narin's 6-year-old brother Eren began to cry and scream.

Presiding Judge: Bring Eren inside.

Defense attorneys: Sensitivity. 

Presiding Judge: Fine, let neither of the two children's statements be taken.

Upon this, the lawyer for the Ministry of Family and Social Services "The child needs to be heard." said.

The presiding judge became angry and, raising his voice, said,"I am ashamed to have to explain this to you." said.

Afterward, the brother, Baran Güran, returned to the courtroom. 

Referring to the children whose testimonies he had just canceled, the presiding judge "Baran, go to your siblings" he said.

The tension subsided.

Following this, the testimony of 9-year-old M.K. was taken in the presence of a child psychologist.

Now, another child will be heard. 

Salim Güran's 16-year-old G.G. is also being heard in the presence of a child psychologist; 

Psychologist: At what time did your father leave?

G.G.: My father left around 15:30.

- Where to?

- He went to the field.

- What happened next?

- He did not come home.

- When did you see your father next?

- My father did not come home. I called my father when Narin went missing.

- What time was it then?

- It was dark. Aunt Yüksel came, she got up and knocked.

- Well, your father left the house around 15:30, did he ever talk to you on the phone and tell you "don't say anything" did he?

- No.

Presiding Judge: Did he ever leave the house, and did anyone come to the house after his father left?

Pedagogue: So, what did you do after your father left the house?

G.G.: We sat down.

Pedagogue: Who was in the house?

G.G.: (I couldn't hear.) 

The Presiding Judge intervened again: Did you ever ask if Enes had come home?  

Pedagogue: Did Enes come to your house?

G.G.: No, he never came. I also never left the house. 

Presiding Judge: We thank G.G. Let's bring in Melike, he said, concluding the testimony of Salim Güran's daughter.

The child psychologist asks M.G.; 

Child Psychologist: There was a fight after Narin went missing. Can you tell me about it? 

M.G.: On the day Narin went missing, there was a fight among the women. They took my aunt Yüksel to the ambulance. Narin's aunt pointed her finger at my mother, and I stood up in anger; 'Enough, we don't know anything.' I said.

Child Psychologist: Why did Yasemin say that?

M.G.: My mother and the others went to give statements many times. Everyone was suspicious of everyone else, I think that's why.

Pedagogue: Did your mother say anything to Yasemin during the argument?

M.G.: No, my mother was just looking at her.

Presiding Judge: Can you ask when Narin came home?

Pedagogue: Did Narin come to you on the day of the incident?

M.G.: The door rang, they said 'Narin' but I did not see Narin; everyone in the village kept saying 17:00-18:00.

Pedagogue: After these events, he went to Istanbul and returned. Did you speak?

M. G.: He came to us, but we didn't speak at all. 

Pedagogue: Did your mother or sister speak?

M.G.: No.

Pedagogue: Did Enes suggest anything to you regarding the time? 

Former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren intervened: Enes had said,'it is impossible for you to see at that time' Could you ask him about this?

The child psychologist asked: What do you think about this?

M.G.: "No, I did not hear anything."

The Presiding Judge, "You may take the children out and send them home" concluding the testimony of the children.

The child witnesses arrived at the courthouse to testify but were not present in the courtroom.

They participated in the hearing from the Family Development Room (A.G.O.) inside the courthouse, accompanied by a pedagogue. 

Just moments ago, the presiding judge, as soon as Baran Güran entered the courtroom, "go to your siblings" he said, sending him to the witness and victim support area.

Now, Narin's grandmother, who lives in Istanbul, will be heard. However, since she does not speak Turkish, a gendarmerie officer who speaks Kurdish will act as an interpreter. 

The Presiding Judge stepped down from the bench and approached Narin's grandmother. 

He took her statement at close range through a question-and-answer session, accompanied by the gendarmerie officer acting as an interpreter.

The Presiding Judge asked about the fight between the women, and the grandmother replied that she had not witnessed it. He concluded the testimony without further tiring the elderly woman.

Now, Salim Güran's wife is sitting in the witness chair. 

Salim Güran's wife, Melek Güran, is answering questions; 

- My husband came home and said, 'I am hungry' she said, I prepared something. I went to the girls, my daughters had put on their clothes. They showed them to their father, and their father said ''They look very beautiful' he said.

Judge: What did your husband eat?

- I had prepared breakfast items.

- Around what time did he leave?

- I don't remember.

- Did anyone else come to your house?

- No.

- Did Enes come?

- No.

- Did you go outside?

- I did not go out.

- Did your daughters go out? 

- No, they were also at home.

- So, did you suspect your husband's actions after these events?

- No, I absolutely do not suspect him.

- Did your husband give you any instructions?

- How do you mean?

- The allegation is that your husband misled the gendarmerie so that Narin would not be found. Did something like that happen?

- No.

- There is an allegation in the file that your daughter's phone was called at 15:39.

- No, that did not happen; I only called her when I was at the market, that is all. 

The prosecutor asks Salim Güran's wife, Melek Güran:

Prosecutor: Where were you at 15:39?

Melek Güran: We were at home. 

Former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren asks Salim Güran's wife, Melek Güran; 

Nahit Eren: I am not asking about the day of the incident. Did you call Hediye at another time, leaving her with 3-4 missed calls?

Melek Güran: I do not remember. 

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asks; 

Lawyer: Your husband confessed in this courtroom that he cheated on you. Are you aware of this? 

Melek Güran: My husband does not cheat on me.

Presiding Judge: Let us respect the rights of the witness.

Lawyer: Did your husband buy you gold as a gift?

Melek Güran: No.

Lawyer: Did he not buy you 600,000 liras worth of gold?

Melek Güran: No. 

Salim Güran's lawyer asks Salim Güran's wife, Melek Güran; 

Lawyer: Did Narin play with your children? 

Melek Güran: Yes, they always played at the door. 

Lawyer: So, could the DNA have been transferred for this reason? 

Melek Güran: It is possible. 

Lawyer: Could your husband have killed Narin? 

Melek Güran: No. 

One of the defense attorneys took the microphone and

"We are talking about systematic torture here. They are all afraid." they said.

Melek Güran's testimony has also been completed.

Now, cousin Birsen Güran will be heard.

Some lawyers "We are exhausted, we are going to faint" requested a break. 

The presiding judge, "I am also putting in double the effort. We will take a break in an hour." the judge said, continuing the hearing. 

At that moment, Salim Güran requested a bathroom break and was escorted to the restroom by the gendarmerie. 

The presiding judge asks Birsen Güran; 

- Did Salim direct you?

- He did not. I think I expressed myself incorrectly; I signed it without reading it, and I learned about it during my first court appearance.

- Then, Ms. Birsen, did Salim ask you to say that you saw Narin at 17:40?

- No, that did not happen. Melike and I were searching for Narin. We were discussing the time.

- Why were you discussing the time?

- The reason for not saying 17:40 is this; Mina arrived. When my sister Melike opened the door... (inaudible)

On August 19, my father, my mother, and I went to register for university. I was excited. 

- So, did Salim not tell you to say 17:40?

- No, that is not what happened.

- Did Salim direct you on any other matter after this incident?

- No, that did not happen. I was at home all the time. He had said that there were people who saw her at 18:00. 

The court panel conferred among themselves. 

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asks Birsen Güran; 

Lawyer: Was there a problem with your initial statement?

- There was a problem. I had said that I heard it from my aunt Yüksel.

- You gave another statement 8 days after the incident; were you under pressure here?

- By whom?

- Were you subjected to ill-treatment? 

- I was subjected to ill-treatment. They... regarding my private life... (the lawyer did not want her to elaborate)

I have not filed a criminal complaint against anyone; I am afraid. 

The presiding judge asked the lawyers, "Should the witnesses who have been heard remain in the courtroom?" It was decided that the witnesses would remain in the courtroom.

The court recessed until 16:00. 

The hearing resumed quickly after the break.

15-year-old detainee Ramazan Atasoy was brought to the court.

The hearing continued with the testimony of the witnesses. 

(A phone conversation with Salim Güran had emerged)

The presiding judge asked if he wanted to be a witness.

Ramazan Aksoy replied that he did not want to be a witness.

The presiding judge ordered him to be taken back to prison.

Upon this, Nahit Eren requested that it be added to the file under which article of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) he was not testifying as a witness.

The presiding judge replied, 'Alright, thank you.'

The court stated that there were similar allegations regarding witness Ramazan Atasoy and that an investigation was being conducted by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. 

Furthermore, the court recorded that he had been reminded of his right to refrain from testifying to avoid any future disputes, and that Ramazan Atasoy had chosen to exercise that right.

Hediye Güran arrived as a witness.

Hediye Güran is giving her testimony;

Salim Güran is my brother-in-law.

Yüksel is my sister-in-law.

Enes is my nephew. 

Judge: Can you describe the day Narin went missing? 

Hediye: Around 3:00 PM, I went to Yüksel's house to turn on the water; I turned it on and then left.

Eren opened the door and said, 'My mother is sleeping.' I didn't see anyone else in the house.

When I came to the house for the second time, the door was open.

I went to the house via the footpath.

At Yüksel Güran's house, 

I turned off the water.

Then I entered the house. 

Yüksel, Enes, and Muhammet were at home.

Enes was sleeping; he woke up when I arrived.

I did not see Enes leave, but he did leave the house.

Judge: What did you do at home?

Hediye: We sat and chatted. 

We put the clothes in the suitcase.

Judge: How many hours did you stay at the house?

Hediye: We sat for quite a long time.

Judge: Could Enes have been in the barn?

Hediye: No.

Judge: In one of your statements you said 'Enes is sleeping,' and in another you said 'Enes came home.'

Hediye: When I arrived, Enes woke up, I saw him.

Judge: Do you know Nevzat? Did you witness any suspicious behavior from him?

Hediye: No.

Judge: They had cameras installed in their homes 

Hediye: I don't know. Only Uncle Hüseyin's family installed them after the incident.

Judge: Why?

Hediye: For their own family.

Judge: Were secret meetings held in the houses where these cameras are located?

Hediye: No.

Judge: Was there anyone who told you to hide evidence or mislead the gendarmerie?

Hediye: No, there was not.

Judge: How was Yüksel when Narin was found?

Hediye: She was devastated.

Judge: How was she? Did she appear as if a crime she had committed was being exposed?

Hediye: She seemed like a mother whose heart was burning.

Judge: Did you ever meet with Salim?

Hediye: No.

Judge: Isn't Salim your brother-in-law? 

Hediye: Yes.

Judge: Didn't your husband tell you anything when he came and went?

Hediye: No, nobody told me anything. 

The prosecutor asks a question;

Prosecutor: That day, you went out, left the laundry with Yüksel, turned on the water, and turned it off. How long did you stay in your own house?

Hediye: I don't know.

Prosecutor: Your children said you left the house once.

Hediye: They don't remember that. 

Nahit Eren asks Hediye Güran; 

Nahit Eren: You said you prepared breakfast for your children in the morning; was Abdurrahman at breakfast?

Hediye Güran: Yes. 

Nahit Eren: Do you remember where you were between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM?

Hediye Güran: I was at my house.

Nahit Eren: Your son says in his statement, 'I woke up at 1:00 PM, my mother was not at home, I only saw my mother around 5:00 PM.' 

Where were you between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM?

Hediye Güran: I was at home.

Nahit Eren: "Where were you between 15:00 and 17:00?"

Hediye Güran: I was at home.

Nahit Eren: Was Abdurahman awake in the afternoon?

Hediye Güran: She was sleeping.

Nahit Eren: If Salim had parked his own white car in front of that house and in the surrounding area, you would have seen it, right?

Hediye Güran: Yes.

Nahit Eren: The vehicle is a large white vehicle; did you not see it?

Hediye Güran: I did not pay attention. 

Defense attorneys intervened, objecting by saying, "The same question is being asked repeatedly."

Nahit Eren: When you were alone with Yüksel, did Muhammet see you?

Hediye Güran: I saw him.

Nahit Eren: Did she see you?

Hediye Güran: I don't know.

Nahit Eren: You said, 'When I went out, I saw Enes entering the house.' Was Muhammet with you?

Hediye Güran: No.

Hediye Güran's testimony has concluded.

Defendants Salim Güran, Enes Güran, Yüksel Güran, and Nevzat Bahtiyar were taken out for a lunch break. The hearing was adjourned for half an hour.

Following the break, the hearing resumed with the testimony of Mehmet Selim Atasoy, an employee of Salim Güran.

Mehmet Selim Atasoy is giving his statement; 

- I went there, and Salim and my son were sitting by the drilling site. 

- Do you remember the time?

- It was past 3:00 PM.

- Had the afternoon call to prayer (Asr) been recited yet?

- I cannot recall.

"I went to the field; Salim and Ramazan were there. I sat for a short while. I went down to the field between Tavşantepe and Çarıklı to change the water. After that, I went back up. The sun was about to set. I went to the area between Tavşantepe and Batı Karakoç again; the sun was about to set. His phone rang, and he said a child was missing in our village."

- So, you were together in the field for about 4 hours at that time.

- I don't remember the exact time.

- When you spoke with Salim, were you suspicious of his behavior?

- Since I didn't stay there very long...

- According to the indictment, Salim arrived there after killing Narin. How was his behavior?

- I don't know that.

- He called you on the phone at 15:52. Did Ramazan tell you anything else?

- He did not call me; we did not have such a conversation.

- Why did this conversation take place at 15:52? He is talking to Ramazan, not you. 

Do you know what time he called you?

- I know he called, but I do not remember the time. 

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asks Mehmet Selim Atasoy; 

- Where were you at 18:38?

- I was in the field between Tavşantepe and Çarıklı.

- Was your son Ramazan with you?

- No.

- There is a phone conversation. Salim Güran calls your son. It is a conversation in Kurdish. He says, 'Something of yours fell at the border...' Did he say anything about this?

- No, if he had said anything, I would have told you.

- At 18:51, your son calls this time, mentioning a vehicle. Then, a minute later, he calls again. He says, 'Okay, it's gone.' What is this about?

- Salim had told us to inform him about any illegal activity.

- Does TEDAŞ conduct inspections at night?

There is a gendarmerie report. In the gendarmerie report, your son says, 'When the village headman arrived in the afternoon, the cuffs of both his trousers were wet.' Is this true?

- No, there is no such thing.

- Did you not go to the stream bank?

- No.

When Salim came home, we entered the crowd. 

- But in your statement, you said, "Salim went in to change his clothes."

- Yes, he went to change his clothes.

Nahit Eren asks; 

- Do you remember exactly what time you arrived at the location with the borehole, where Ramazan and Salim were standing side by side?

- I don't remember. I usually drop the worker off at the field at 06:00 in the morning, then I drop them off at the village around 15:00, and I return to the field by motorcycle. 

- Do you not remember the duration?

- No.

- Do you know where Narin was recovered from?

- No, I do not know.

- When you went to the three fields, could you see the location of the Eğertutmaz Stream?

- I don't know. 

Lawyer Nahit Eren is reading a transcript of a phone call made with Salim Güran at 16:28 in Kurdish.

Salim Güran is attempting to intervene. His lawyers have requested the audio recording.

The audio recording is being transferred from a flash drive to a computer and will be played in court. 

Everyone stood up, and the oath was taken.

Kurdish-speaking lawyers from both sides will translate the audio recording. The recording is currently being played.

The audio recording was entered into the case file as: 'Brother, I opened that tire by the stream, no matter what I did, it didn't work.' 

The defense attorney stated, 'I tried to open the tire, it wouldn't open.'

Mehmet Selim Atasoy was asked,

He replied, 'I don't know.'

His lawyer stated that Salim Güran had raised his hand and requested that he be given the floor.

The presiding judge called Salim Güran to the stand.

"Salim, what is this Kurdish conversation about?" he asked.

Salim Güran explained, "We call the tool attached to the back of the tractor used for throwing stones a 'kepçe' (scoop)," and then returned to his seat.

Nahit Eren stated that the translation was incorrect.

The lawyer for the Ministry of Family and Social Services asked Mehmet Selim Atasoy:

- Did Salim give you orders?

- No, our work was field work; he would help us.

- Do you know Nevzat?

- I do not know him.

- What was Salim's financial situation like?

- I don't know.

- What time did Salim come to the field?

- I don't remember. 

- Salim Güran has 3 fields; does the location of those fields overlook the stream? 

- I don't know. 

- How long did it take you to change the water in the 3 fields?

- Times change.

- Did you deal with the excavator on the day Narin was killed?

- The excavator was attached to the back of the car. 

- Did you see the electricians who came to the field?

- I did not.

Yasemin Gül, Yüksel Güran's sister and Narin's aunt, will be heard as a witness.

Yasemin Gül;

Yüksel Güran's sister is giving her testimony.

I was at home on the day Narin went missing; she called around 9:00 PM. We came to the village and joined the search efforts.

Presiding Judge: Did Yüksel say, 'Let Narin have a grave'?

Yasemin: It wasn't like that; she said it because Tülin had died. She said, 'If she is dead, at least let her have a grave with her.'

Judge: Were there any bruises on Enes?

Yasemin: There was, there was a slight bruise.

Judge: On the day of the incident?

Yasemin: I don't remember.

Judge: What was the fight between the women about?

Yasemin: When Narin was found, I went to the village with my husband. My sister was distraught and said, 'May God not let anyone experience this.' Maşallah arrived and reacted, saying, 'May God damn you all.' I asked, 'Are you blaming us?' Then she said in Kurdish, 'May God damn you, may my eyes be blinded, may your neck be broken,' but I don't know who she was addressing. She was speaking to all the women present.

Diyarbakır Bar Association lawyer:

Lawyer: 'If such an incident occurred, if she was murdered, it is impossible for someone from outside the village to have done it.'

Yasemin: 'You said, can a child go missing or be murdered in the village? If my sister had a romantic affair, I would have known about it.'

The presiding judge allowed Yasemin Gül to return home as she was waiting for her children. At that moment, Yasemin Gül called out to her sister, greeted her, waved, and said, 'God is great, Yüksel,' before leaving the courtroom.

Vecdi Bahtiyar, the brother of Nevzat Bahtiyar, was brought into the courtroom.

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “Ali Rıza Güran told Hasan Kaya, ‘Nevzat killed the girl, everyone knows it, let him confess and take the blame.’ I went and told Nevzat this during the visitation.”

Presiding Judge: “Who did you speak with?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “My nephew İbrahim told me.”

Presiding Judge: “Where do you live?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “Çarıklı.”

Presiding Judge: “Did you know about Narin’s disappearance?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “I was working in Hatay; my wife called and informed me. I called Salim Güran.”

Presiding Judge: “How do you know Salim?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "He is our former fellow villager."

Presiding Judge: "Nevzat claims, 'When I went to the house, the girl was already dead, and Salim told me, I killed her, take this body and dispose of it.' Did Salim give you any instructions to that effect?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "No."

Presiding Judge: "Were these routine calls of yours purely out of curiosity? Did Salim give you any instructions?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "No."

Former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren asks Vecdi Bahtiyar:

"Do you remember the sequential calls?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "I know I called."

Nahit Eren: "What did you ask Salim within 2-3 hours on the same day?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “I said, ‘I hope you find her,’ and ‘Have you found her?’”

Nahit Eren: “So, you felt the need to ask 2-3 times a day?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “Yes.”

Nahit Eren: “Why didn't you call again at all after August 23?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "Because I came to the village."

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asks Vecdi Bahtiyar, the brother of Nevzat Bahtiyar:

"Were you closer to him, or was your brother closer to Salim?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "My brother."

Lawyer: "Then how is it that you were the one who saw him more often?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "They had already collaborated."

The lawyer representing the Ministry of Family and Social Services asks Nevzat Bahtiyar's brother, Vecdi Bahtiyar:

"Did the 50,000 lira payment lead to this murder?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "No, there is no such thing."

Lawyer: "Were they going to the search operations together?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "No, I did not see it."

Lawyer: "How was the relationship between Salim and Nevzat after the debt dispute?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "It was good; there were no problems between them."

Yüksel Güran's lawyer asks Nevzat Bahtiyar's brother, Vecdi Bahtiyar:

"Is your family afraid of Salim?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “No, but he was hesitant because he was his friend.”

Lawyer: “And you?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “I only fear God.”

Lawyer: “There is a tip-off in the file made in your name.”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “I do not accept it.”

Lawyer: “Where were you when Nevzat was caught?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “We were at home; the roads were closed, and entry and exit were restricted.”

Lawyer: “You stated that Ali Rıza Güran made an offer. You said he conveyed the offer through other intermediaries, right?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "Yes, there was also a phone call."

Lawyer: "With whom?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "İbrahim Bahtiyar, Hasan Kaya told him."

Enes Güran's lawyer asks Vecdi Bahtiyar:

"The presiding judge has moved past this question."

Lawyer: “How would you describe your brother as a person?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “He is quiet and keeps to himself.”

Lawyer: “Is your brother cold-blooded?”

Vecdi Bahtiyar: “As you can see, his cold-bloodedness is evident.”

Lawyer: "If you had believed that Nevzat committed this crime, would you have helped him?"

Presiding Judge: "We are skipping this question."

Enes Güran's lawyer asks Vecdi Bahtiyar:

"Does Nevzat need money?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "My brother does not need money. He has three sons. They all work."

Lawyer: "Did your brother Askeri Bahtiyar love money?"

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "You are a lawyer yourself, don't you love money even more?"

The presiding judge intervened. 

Salim Güran's brother, Erhan Güran, was brought into the courtroom.

Judge: "Did you plan this fire?"

Erhan Güran: "Even if we wanted to, we couldn't do it; the fences are too high."

Judge: "Why did you install the camera?"

Erhan Güran: "There was constant activity around my house. We installed the camera in case someone threw something in front of our house."

Judge: "Did you have the camera installed before Narin was found?"

Erhan Güran: "Yes, on September 4th."

Judge: "Did you hold secret meetings in these houses? Did you act to ensure that the truth about who killed Narin would not come out?"

Erhan Güran: "We didn't meet to keep it hidden; we met so that if anyone knew something, they could help."

Judge: "So, the purpose of this meeting was to find the killer?"

Erhan Güran: "Yes."

Judge: "Was Salim present at these meetings?"

Erhan Güran: "No, he was always with law enforcement."

Judge: "You are outside, you are not in custody. What is the Vecdi Bahtiyar incident? Was there an offer of money?"

Erhan Güran: “We definitely did not come together with Vecdi. His number was not saved either. He called me and introduced himself; he said, ‘We are not guilty.’ I said, ‘Did we say anything to you?’ He said no.”

Judge: “Could he not have called to say he was innocent?”

Erhan Güran: “Why would he call me?”

Judge: “Just as you had cameras installed at your home to avoid trouble, could he not have called for the same reason?”

Lawyer from the Ministry of Family and Social Services;

Lawyer: "Did you see anything between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM?"

Erhan Güran: "My house is lower down and doesn't have a view. I was at home until around 5:00 PM."

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association began questioning: 

Lawyer: "You said, 'We focused on the canal,' why?"

Erhan Güran: "The dogs led us there."

A lawyer from the Diyarbakır Bar Association asks Erhan Güran: "When you were speaking with the Diyarbakır Bar Association, did you say that you had heard rumors that Enes would be mistreated?"

Erhan Güran: "Yes."

Lawyer: "What did the Bar Association president say?"

Erhan Güran: "How could that be, did he say something like that?"

Defense attorneys object: "There was no private lawyer at that time."

Presiding Judge: "You have strayed from the point now, thank you."

Vecdi Bahtiyar: "There are people who have been following me for 1-2 days. I investigated, and they turned out to be Barış Güran's men."

Presiding Judge: "Please go to the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office."

Nahit Eren recounts the dialogue regarding the torture allegations as follows:

"They said, 'Our children cannot go to school. They stated that pressure was being put on the family. Our children were tortured while in custody.'"

I stated that the history of the Diyarbakır Bar Association has been spent fighting such allegations, but if there are claims of torture against family members, please tell me. A colleague of ours picked up a phone and called someone named Taner. We asked, and he answered 'yes' to the question of whether there was any mistreatment. I said they needed to file a formal application for us to take action, but no such application was made.

Presiding Judge: "Let's wrap this up."

Denying all allegations against him, Barış Güran stated, 'Justice is the foundation of the state, but right now my teeth are loose. Whoever came in would punch us in the face. People coming inside would beat us. All the rooms were full; they tortured the entire Güran family.' 

Barış continued, 'Even though I didn't know where Ferhat Bahtiyar’s house was, I said I did to avoid being beaten. When Nevzat Bahtiyar saw us, he reached for the window and started to run. Then they took Nevzat to the construction site across the street and threw him around. I think Nevzat confessed there. Commander Şakir arrived and said, "Thank God, it's solved."'"

Ali Rıza Güran arrived to testify as a witness.

The Presiding Judge asks Ali Rıza Güran: 'Did you offer money to Vecdi Bahtiyar to pass on to Nevzat, asking him to take the blame for the crime?'

Ali Rıza Güran: "Sir, there is no truth to this matter, it is a lie."

Presiding Judge: "Did you suspect your nephew Salim?"

Ali Rıza Güran: "No, Salim was constantly with the gendarmerie. I would always pull my nephews aside and ask them. Even Nevzat would come sometimes; he once told me, 'May God not forsake your people.'"

At that moment, Yüksel Güran cursed.

Presiding Judge: "Did you hold a meeting within the family?"

Ali Rıza Güran: "Yes, I did it."

Ali Rıza Güran explains to the lawyers: "My village is not a rural area. Airport cameras are watching; let them look. If Nevzat truly took her from Arif's house, then my family killed her. But if this girl did not go up the path, he should not lie. Nevzat had already conditioned her 3-5 times before by giving her money in front of his own house, and finally, he took her in his arms and kidnapped her."

Ali Rıza Güran's testimony has concluded. 

The lawyers stated they were exhausted and requested that the hearing be adjourned for the day.

Presiding Judge: I am exhausted too, but we will continue for one more hour.

HEARING ADJOURNED

Second day of the Narin Güran trial concludes: Hearings to continue tomorrow.

News Source: 12punto