‘Self-defense’ assessment for police officer in armed incident in front of entertainment venue in Bursa

A notable assessment was included in the investigation into an armed incident that occurred in front of an entertainment venue in the Osmangazi district of Bursa, which resulted in the death of 35-year-old Berk Keleş. The indictment prepared by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated the opinion that the intervention of police officer M.S., who was reported to be off-duty at the time of the incident, fell under the provisions of self-defense regulated in Article 25 of the Turkish Penal Code.

The incident took place in front of an entertainment venue on Istanbul Street in the Küplüpınar neighborhood. According to the allegations, Berk Keleş, who came to the venue with his friends, argued with the staff after eating and drinking alcohol, claiming the bill was too high. As the argument escalated, a taxi was called to take Keleş home.

According to claims reflected in sources, Keleş continued to shout and use insults in front of the venue. Keleş, who wounded staff member Önder Y. in the leg with a handgun, then got into a taxi.

At that moment, police officer M.S., who was at the venue and reported to be off-duty, went outside and told Keleş that he was a police officer. It was stated that M.S. warned him by saying, "Stop, police, drop your weapon, surrender," but despite this, Keleş pulled his weapon from inside the taxi, pointed it at the police officer, and fired.

EMPHASIS ON SELF-DEFENSE IN THE INDICTMENT

Keleş, who was shot in the head during the exchange of fire when police officer M.S. responded, was critically wounded. Keleş, who was taken to the hospital by medical teams, lost his life despite interventions. Önder Y., who was wounded in the leg during the incident, was discharged after treatment. An autopsy of Keleş revealed he had a blood alcohol level of 2.79 promille.

The indictment noted that Keleş first wounded Önder Y. with a weapon, then threatened the crowd in front of the venue by pointing his weapon and saying, "I'll burn this place down, I'll shoot you all," and subsequently fired at M.S., who had identified himself as a police officer.

The prosecutor's office concluded that M.S. acted in accordance with the requirements of his duty in the face of both the attack on the wounded individual and the threat to the safety of the surrounding crowd and his own life. The indictment stated that the police officer's actions should be evaluated within the scope of self-defense.

Police officer M.S.'s lawyer, Sedat Gülen, also stated that his client being off-duty did not negate his police duties in the face of the incident. Gülen argued that security camera footage shows M.S. identifying himself as a police officer and issuing warnings, and that his intention was not to kill but to end the attack.

It was reported that the indictment has been accepted by the High Criminal Court and that the trial of police officer M.S., who was released under judicial control after being detained during the investigation process, will begin in the coming days.

News Source: 12punto