Dink Hearing: Judge Finally Reacted to Insults

The fourth hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial on Monday, 25 February, had brought its usual share of tension, as defendants and defense lawyer Fuat Turgut had continued to act insultingly.

Joint attorney Kezban Hatemi told court president Erkan Canak that she was insulted by suspected gunman O.S. during the hearing.

Defendant told not to talk

In another incident, suspect Ersin Yolcu was being cross-examined. He said that O.S. had got on the bus from Trabzon to Istanbul by himself. There has been evidence that O.S. did not go alone after all. However, then police informant and fellow defendant Erhan Tuncel said to Yolcu, “Don’t talk.” Yolcu then refused to answer any more questions. As a result, Tuncel was sent out of the court room.

Attempted attack on joint attorney

Later, suspect Yasin Hayal tried to attack joint attorney Erdal Dogan. Hayal had become angry when Dogan asked suspect Yasar Cihan from the Great Union Party (BBP) several questions on the McDonald’s bombing in Trabzon. Hayal had been implicated in the bombing but protected by the police.

After his attempted attack on Dogan, Hayal was taken out of the court room, too.

Turgut: A stream of hate speech

Fuat Turgut, Hayal’s defense lawyer, had said in front of the court, prior to the start of the hearing: “Where is the horde saying ‘We are all Armenian’? May Allah unite them all with their Hrants.”

During the morning session of the hearing, he said about his client Hayal, “My client is not a murderer, unlike the rabid Armenians.” He was warned after that remark, but later said, “Hrant Dink was from TIKKO (the illegal Turkish Workers and Peasants’ Liberation Army) and a registered traitor.” He also said, “Those defending Armenians are Devsirme (i.e. non-Muslims).”

Hrant Dink’s daughter Delal Dink finally reacted to Turgut’s taunts, protesting to the court, “Enough! When my father was alive he was called an enemy of the Turks and killed. I cannot stand this any longer.”

The joint attorneys also argued that a defense could not contain insults and protested. Finally, Judge Canak reacted, citing Article 252/F of Criminal Procedure Law, and sent Turgut out of the court room.

On 2 July 2007, Turgut had insulted the Dink family and the joint attorneys before the first hearing began. (EÖ/TK/AG)