Aggravated life imprisonment for mother and stepbrother

The verdict was delivered in the second hearing of the case held at the Adıyaman 1st High Criminal Court. The court heard the defendants before announcing the decision.

In her defense, the defendant mother, Ayşe G., said while crying, "I am not a child killer. How can you make such an accusation against me? Those who slander us are doing this because of property. I am not a mother who killed her child, do not accuse me of such a thing."

The defendant stepbrother, Kadir K., stated in his defense, "I am innocent. My sister had psychological problems. She ran away from home many times before getting married. I was acquitted twice. I was in Dubai after the Court of Cassation's reversal decision. I returned to my country immediately. If I were a murderer, I would not have come back. I am innocent. I wish I were even a tiny bit guilty so my mother wouldn't be crying like this. If I had known my sister would do such a thing, I would have thrown myself in front of her. They are doing us a great injustice," he said.

The defense attorneys argued that the trial was not fair and that the statements of the secret witnesses did not reflect the truth. They requested that new witnesses be heard. After the defendants delivered their final statements, the court took a 15-minute recess to reach a verdict.

The court panel announced its decision after the recess. In the ruling, both defendants, Ayşe G. and Kadir K., were sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for "using force and threats against the victim, forcing her to commit suicide, and committing the crime of intentional homicide against close relatives (lineal ascendant, descendant, spouse, divorced spouse, or sibling)" under Article 82/1-d of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

News Source: İHA