Justice for Dink Left to Whim of the Defendant

The Hrant Dink murder case cannot proceed because the court insists on obtaining defendant at liberty Ahmet İskender’s opinion on the Supreme Court of Appeals’ decision of reversal.

Istanbul 5^th High Criminal Court rejected the requests to separate the part of the case concerning defendant at large İskender and rule on the Supreme Court of Appeals’ decree of reversal. Dink family attorneys Hakan Bakırcıoğlu, Bahri Belen, Sebu Aslangil and Naciye Demir expressed that the trial has not advanced at all in the past year.

The judiciary has yet to try the defendants in Trabzon province for the murder of Agos newspaper executive editor Dink dated January 19, 2007 in Istanbul’s Şişli district, despite the seven years that have elapsed since the incident.

Iskender at liberty, case at deadlock

Dink family attorney Bahri Belen said at the hearing that the court needs to separate the part of the case concerning defendant at large İskender and issue a decision on the Supreme Court of Appeals’ decree of reversal, and that to wait for the capture of İskender is unfair not only to them but also in terms of the rights of the other defendants.

The panel of judges stated that the declarations of all of the defendants in response to the Supreme Court of Appeals’ decree of reversal are mandatory, and ruled in favor of waiting for the implementation of the warrant on İskender. The trial was postponed to October 30.

Tanrıkulu and TGC in attendance

The case had been transferred to İstanbul 5^th High Criminal Court with the abolition of the specially authorized İstanbul 14^th High Criminal Court. İstanbul 5^th High Criminal Court held the sixth hearing today (July 17) in İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse.

Only Osman Hayal, and Yasin Hayal’s attorney Fatma Aygören were present in the courtroom on behalf of the defendants. Among the spectators were Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Journalists’ Community of Turkey (TGC) Chair Turgay Olcayto, Secretary General Sibel Güneş, administrative board member Recep Yaşar and TGC Legal Adviser Gökhan Küçük.

Nonsuit lifted for Cerrah, Güngör and 7 police officers

The sole positive development in the case in terms of the responsibility of public offices took place on May 21: Bakırköy 8^th High Criminal Court lifted the verdict of non-prosecution issued by İstanbul Chief Public Prosecution on then İstanbul Deputy Governor Ergun Güngör, then İstanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah and seven security officials. (EÖ/HK)

Photograph: Erol Önderoğlu