The case regarding the murder of Sinan Ateş was heard today at the Ankara 32nd High Criminal Court in the hall of the Sincan Prison Campus.
In the afternoon session, statements from the defense lawyers continued to be taken.
Omer Faruk Gündodu, the lawyer for Murat Can Çolak, one of the police officers who allegedly took hitman Elay Öcaçi from Istanbul to Ankara, argued that his client did not know that the person he was traveling with was planning to commit murder.
Ojaci is a friend of Ashkin Mert Gerembei, one of the defendants in the case, and Gundudu claimed his client did not know him, demanding his client’s release and acquittal.
The lawsuit continues tomorrow.
Ilker Kocaoğlu, the lawyer for defendant Ufuk Kökturk, said the reason he filed suit against his client was because one of the defendants, Zekeriya Asarkaya, had transferred 4,000 lira to his bank account.
Kocaoglu said his client transferred the money after Dokkan Chep asked for a loan, adding, “My client is innocent and did not act within the scope of aiding and abetting a crime. He was arrested after being informed that he was the culprit,” the political party’s regional head said.
Lawyers for the defendants Mustafa Uzunlar, Osman Bayraktar, Mehmet Uce, Çalal Zorlu, Aytak Atac, Serdar Oktem, Caner Günay, Emre Yüksel and Umut Ersoy also argued that their clients were innocent and called for their release.
Statements from 19 defense lawyers were heard today. The hearing will continue tomorrow with statement from the lawyers.
Statements by Ayşe Ateş and Kirışdaroğlu
After the hearing was adjourned for lunch, Ayse Ateş and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made a joint statement to reporters.
Ateş said the trial had finally begun after a year and a half, revealing the extent of a massive conspiracy, and that he wanted to turn the political murder into an ordinary murder case with memorable remarks.
“This situation is truly deplorable. What is being tried? Who is being tried? I really cannot understand this, this conspiracy,” Ateş said, claiming that the defendants had made statements consistent with those made by members of Ürükü Öçaklal and MHP officials. “They will meet the state and they will see that the state is fair and just. Everyone will see their face. No one should think that they will get away with their crimes,” he said.
Ayşe Ateş said the defendants tried to create the impression that the allegations were fabricated by chance, saying:
They built a set. They don’t want anyone to go behind that set. They don’t want the political side of this political murder to be revealed. No matter what they do, no matter how hard they try, no matter how many plot twists they make, every trick and dirty move they make will come back to haunt them. Everyone should know this.
“A common duty for all”
Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also told the court that he wanted to create the perception that this was an ordinary event, rather than a political one.
Kılıçdaroğlu said there is nothing more natural than a mother and wife seeking justice, adding, “We are faced with a structure and understanding where we get along with each other in the halls and plan what we are going to say in advance. But that is not the case. Our struggle will continue until justice is achieved in this case. “No matter who fights, the country loses, democracy loses, justice loses, we all lose,” she said.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said that Ayşe Ateş’s case is the case of 83 million people, and that “this case is a case of justice, and it must be the common duty of all those who defend justice to follow up, monitor and bring this case of justice to an end.”
“They can’t stand it because I stand for justice.”
During the hearing, one of the defendants, Doukan Cep, asked, “Where is Kemal?” Recalling that he shouted, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said:
They cannot stand the fact that I demand justice and keep this case on the public agenda. They thought, “Anyway, this is a political case. We will commit murder. We have the elders behind us. They will put an end to this case.” These were their thoughts, their beliefs. But they realized that, yes, as they said, before their eyes is Mr. Kemal. There is someone who will defend justice. If justice is not defended, the world will perish. So Sinan Ateş was an intellectual, a scholar, raised by this country. He will be shot and killed in the middle of the street, and we will close our eyes and see nothing. If their Ferishta comes, we will pursue this case.
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