The unanswered question in the death of Işıl Öykü Dinç: Who was behind the wheel?

In the trial concerning the death of 14-year-old Işıl Öykü Dinç, who lost her life after being struck by a car while trying to cross the road in Tuzla, Istanbul, on May 18, the statements of the family and witnesses have brought a critical question in the file back to the agenda: Who was behind the wheel of the vehicle?

Following the accident, a case was opened against Ömer Faruk Ballı, who declared himself to be the driver. Ballı is being tried without arrest and faces up to 6 years in prison. However, the Dinç family argues that there are contradictions between the information provided to them during the investigation process and the accounts in the case file.

SAME ALLEGATION FROM FAMILY AND WITNESSES

Işıl’s father, Yunus Dinç, said that when the police handed over his daughter’s belongings after the accident, he was informed that the driver was a woman. Dinç stated that they were told, “The driver was a woman, she didn’t stop and fled, there wasn’t even a skid mark on the road, and she returned an hour later to surrender to the police station.”

This allegation by the family was also reflected in the statements of some witnesses heard during the hearing. According to the testimonies entered into the file, one of the witnesses, Mustafa K., said that the person driving the vehicle involved in the accident was a woman. Another witness claimed that after the accident, the female driver moved from the driver’s seat to the other side.

In contrast, the person being tried as the defendant in the case is Ömer Faruk Ballı. In his defense at the hearing, Ballı said, “I did not hit Işıl; Işıl hit my car and caused damage.”

Işıl’s mother also argued that the woman alleged to have been behind the wheel was made invisible during the investigation process. Stating that the person’s name does not appear in the file, mother Dinç said, “Her name is not mentioned in any way, and there is an attempt to keep it from being mentioned. I don’t know the reason why.”

DEBATE OVER CAMERA FOOTAGE AND RELEASE DECISION

Another issue the family has drawn attention to is the camera footage. According to the Dinç family, MOBESE (surveillance) records that could show the driver from the front in the area where the accident occurred could not be accessed. It was alleged that police units reported there was no footage clearly showing the driver on the 15 cameras along the approximately 1.5-kilometer route instead of at the scene of the incident.

It was noted that Ballı, who declared himself the driver after the accident, was initially arrested but, according to the family’s claim, was released within four days after the one-page indictment was prepared. The family argues that the release decision was later the subject of an investigation by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK).

Father Yunus Dinç also raised the allegation that there was political interference in the file during the process. Claiming that irregularities emerged after lawyer Fatih Sadullah Selman entered the case, Dinç said that there were changes in prosecutors within a short period.

While the family argues that the accident occurred due to high speed, they want the incident to be clarified in all its aspects. Mother Dinç said, “If you killed my daughter, justice must hold you accountable,” adding that those responsible must face justice.

News Source: 12punto