- BIST10012,151-0.94%
- USD49.220.00%
- EUR55.21+0.28%
- GOLD4,194.50-0.52%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN82,961-0.85%
- October 13, 202619°
- BIST10012,151-0.94%
- USD49.220.00%
- EUR55.21+0.28%
- GOLD4,194.50-0.52%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN82,961-0.85%
- October 13, 202619°
Prosecutor Seeks Conviction for Detained Uncle in Leyla Aydemir Case
In the case concerning the death of 4-year-old Leyla Aydemir in Ağrı, the prosecutor requested convictions for the detained uncle Yusuf Aydemir and two other defendants. The court decided to keep Yusuf Aydemir in detention and postponed the hearing to June 26.
The trial regarding the death of 4-year-old Leyla Aydemir, whose body was found 18 days after she went missing in Ağrı in 2018, continues. At the latest hearing of the case involving seven defendants, one of whom is detained, the public prosecutor requested convictions for the detained uncle Yusuf Aydemir and defendants M. A. A. and B. D.
The court panel decided to continue Yusuf Aydemir's detention and postponed the hearing to June 26. The hearing at Ağrı 1st High Criminal Court was attended by the non-detained defendants A. A, Y. A, B. D, H. D., M. A. A., and M. A., along with Leyla's mother Şükran Aydemir. Detained uncle Yusuf Aydemir participated via SEGBİS (audio and video system) from prison.
When the court requested that each defendant be represented by a lawyer, a short recess was taken and the Ağrı Bar Association appointed new lawyers for the defendants.
I DID NOT SEE THE KILLER WITH MY OWN EYES, IF I HAD, I WOULD HAVE BITTEN HIM TO PIECES
Responding to the court president's question "Are you a complainant?", mother Şükran Aydemir expressed her deep pain with these words: RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF FAMILY HOSTILITY When asked if there was hostility within the family, mother Aydemir stated that there was no enmity and that everyone got along well.
When reminded of her statement during the initial investigation that there was hostility between her and uncle Yusuf, she said, "I do not recall saying 'there is hostility between Yusuf and me' during the investigation. I may have made such a statement in the heat of the moment. There was an argument between Yusuf and B. D., and my husband hit Yusuf to calm the situation, so no hostility developed."
DEFENDANTS REQUESTED ACQUITTAL, PROSECUTOR DEMANDED PUNISHMENT At the hearing, the defendants claimed they were victims of the process and requested acquittal from the court. However, the public prosecutor, presenting the main opinion, requested convictions for defendants M. A. A., B. D., and the detained uncle Yusuf Aydemir.
HEARING POSTPONED TO JUNE 26 After considering the requests and the prosecutor's opinion, the court panel decided to maintain the detention of the only detained defendant, uncle Yusuf Aydemir. The court postponed the hearing to June 26 to complete the missing procedures. WHAT HAPPENED?
On June 15, 2018, during Ramadan Bayram, 4-year-old Leyla Aydemir went missing in Bezirhane village in Ağrı while visiting her grandfather with her family. A search was launched, and her lifeless body was found 18 days later about 2 kilometers from the village, near a stream by the road leading to the city center. No signs of trauma or wounds were found on her body, and she was buried in Bezirhane village.
Following the incident, a trial was opened against seven defendants at Ağrı 1st High Criminal Court regarding Leyla's death. At the verdict hearing on October 2, 2020, detained uncle Yusuf Aydemir was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for "intentional killing" and 4 years in prison for "depriving a person of liberty by force and deceit," while other defendants Y. A, B. D, H. D, M. A, M. A. A., and A. A. were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
LOCAL COURT DECISION OVERTURNED The Erzurum Regional Court of Appeal 1st Criminal Chamber, reviewing the file, emphasized the need for evidence beyond any doubt to convict the defendant and pointed out various procedural deficiencies, overturning the local court's decision for all defendants.
The appellate court also ordered the release of Yusuf Aydemir. The Erzurum Regional Prosecutor's Office appealed this decision on January 4, 2021, but the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Regional Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. The Presidium of the Erzurum Regional Court of Appeal found the overturning decision legally appropriate.
Following the overturning decision, on October 8, 2021, Ağrı 1st High Criminal Court acquitted all defendants due to lack of evidence. Upon appeal, the Erzurum Regional Court of Appeal 1st Criminal Chamber upheld the acquittal. The Supreme Court Chief Public Prosecutor's Office found the acquittal decision unlawful and requested its annulment, and the Supreme Court 1st Criminal Chamber overturned the acquittal decision for the defendants. (AA).
Stay Updated with The Turkiye Times
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
