Three Prime Suspects Face Life Sentences

The months after the murder of Cihan Hayırsevener, General Publications Director of the Güney Marmara'da Yaşam newspaper ('Life in Southern Marmara), the trial against twelve suspects will start on 15 October.

Triggerman suspect Serkan Erakkuş, Ilk Haber newspaper publications director Engin Arıcan, Bandırma Deputy Mayor Talip Yıldız and İhsan Kuruoğlu, İlbey Kuruoğlu and Osman Kuruoğlu as members of the family who publishes the Ilk Haber newspaper are among the defendants. The case will be tried at the Istanbul 10^th High Criminal Court.

Six different counts of the indictment

The defendants are charged with "premeditated murder", "plotted murder", "setting up an organization in order to commit crimes", "membership of an organization set up to commit crimes" and "purchasing, carrying or possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition".

Journalist Hayırsevener was killed on 18 December 2009 in Bandırma (south coast of the Sea of Marmara) after he had been threatened because of his articles on corruption. He was shot into his leg on the centrally located Atatürk Avenue and died as a result of blood loss.

Tensions had occurred between the regionally publishing Marmara group and the Ilkhaber group prior to the murder.  One of the issues of discussion was the thermal power plant planned to be built in the region. İlkhaber had criticized in their news items that the Marmara group opposed the building of the power plant.

Public Prosecutor Hüseyin Ayar prepared the indictment on 11 August. It read that journalist Hayırsevener was threatened by triggerman suspect Erakkuş before the murder. The indictment seeks life sentences for Erakkuş, İhsan Kuruoğlu, Ferdar Dündar and Kerem Yılmaz under article 82/1a of the Turkish Criminal Law (TCK) on "premeditated homicide". Kuruoğlu is said to have sent a death threat to Hayırsevener from prison and apparently instructed his punishment. Dündar allegedly conveyed his instructions in line with the activities of the organization even though he was serving as his lawyer. Yılmaz is believed to have been involved into the attack.

Lawyer Şahin: We are involved on behalf of press freedom

"We are joint plaintiffs of the case because the general publications director of the Yaşam newspaper became the victim of murder due to the news he made. We are involved in the case to protect press freedom and the freedom of expression of thoughts", lawyer Birol Şahin explained.

Negligence of the Police?

The indictment does not mention a partial protection of Hayırsevener by the police prior to the murder due to information obtained prior to the murder.

Television officials had informed the police that they allegedly saw suspicious people in front of the office. Thereupon, the police had taken partial measures of precaution at the end of office hours in the street where the Martas Company is located. Nevertheless, Hayısevener was killed on 18 December 2009 on a main street in Bandırma in bold day light. (EÖ/VK)