Police Crushing 2 Brothers with Panzer Released in First Hearing

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Police officer Ö.Y. who hit a house in Turkey’s southeastern Silopi, Şırnak and caused death of Muhammed Yıldırım (7) and Furkan Yıldırım (6), has been released in the first hearing.

The first hearing of the lawsuit brought against the police officer Ö.Y. and his superior M.M. was held at Cizre 2nd Heavy Penal Court. In his statement for defense, Ö.Y. said that he didn’t have a license to drive panzer and was released through interlocutory judgement.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak MP Leyla Birlik, Diyarbakır Bar Association President Ahmet Özmen, Şırnak Bar Association President Nuşirevan Elçi, lawyers and family of the children observed the hearing.

What happened?

A police officer hitting a house while maneuvering with the panzer caused the death of Muhammed Yıldırım (7) and Furkan Yıldırım (6) as they were sleeping inside the house on May 3, 2017.

The panzer was supposed to protect the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) building.

The prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident. The panzer driver Ö.Y. was arrested and a lawsuit has been brought on Ö.Y.’s superior M.M. on charge of “causing death of more than one person”. (AS/TK)