Appellate court ruling in the Mesut Kazancı case: 18-year prison sentence overturned, case sent back to local court

In the case regarding the death of Mesut Kazancı in Kahramanmaraş, the appellate court has overturned the local court's rulings; the detained defendant's request for release was denied.

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Appellate court ruling in the Mesut Kazancı case: 18-year prison sentence overturned, case sent back to local court

A new decision has been reached at the appellate stage in the case concerning the death of 30-year-old Mesut Kazancı in Kahramanmaraş, who was beaten to death following an argument that broke out after he asked for a glass to drink water. The 1st Criminal Chamber of the Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice overturned the rulings issued by the local court against the defendants.

In its decision announced on March 5, 2026, the Kahramanmaraş 5th High Criminal Court had sentenced Gül Ahmet Irmalı to 18 years in prison for "intentional killing," applying a reduction for unjust provocation. In the same case file, E.N., A.H., V.D., and Y.Ü. were each sentenced to 4 months and 15 days in prison for "intentional injury" against the victim, while H.D. was sentenced to 1 month and 20 days in prison for "destroying, concealing, or altering evidence of a crime."

A photograph of Mesut Kazancı taken while he was sitting on a bench. — The case regarding the death of Mesut Kazancı will be heard again in the local court following the appellate review.

CASE TO BE RETRIED

Reviewing the appeals, the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice overturned the rulings with its decision dated June 11, 2026. The Chamber cited the failure to sufficiently discuss the legal nature of the defendants' actions, the incomplete evaluation of the forensic medical report, and errors in certain sentence calculations and justifications as reasons for the reversal.

Following the reversal decision, it was ordered that the file be sent to the Kahramanmaraş 5th High Criminal Court for a retrial. The appellate court denied the request for release filed by Gül Ahmet Irmalı, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison, and ruled that the defendant's detention shall continue.

Relatives of Mesut Kazancı and citizens gathered in front of the courthouse. — During the local court process of the case, Kazancı's relatives had followed the proceedings in front of the courthouse.

The incident occurred on September 6, 2024, at the Kahramanmaraş Small Industrial Site. Allegedly, Kazancı asked for water at a workplace; he was told to drink water from a hose. The argument that began after Kazancı asked, "Don't you have a glass?" quickly turned into a fight.

Kazancı, who was beaten with sticks, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but could not be saved. Following the completion of the investigation, a lawsuit was filed against 6 defendants. With the appellate court's reversal decision, the local court will re-examine the file.