Tensions Rise in Sarısülük Trial, Hearing Postponed

Around 9:30 am local time this morning, Ankara 6th High Criminal Court opened the Ethem Sarısülük killing case this morning with its top suspect Ahmet Şahbaz, a police officer.

Tensions rose as plaintiff and defendants sides argued in the courtroom, an unrest that was intervened by the police. 

Upon the prosecutor’s request, the panel judge initially ordered a closed hearing - which was later on postponed to October 28. 

Dozens of activists gathered on the steps of Ankara Courthouse in order to support Sarısülük family. 

Plaintiff lawyers objected to the presence of civil police officers in the courtroom, requested an immediate removal. Tension rose as defendant lawyers objected this request, leading the court penal to remove all the audience in the courtroom. 

“He might not be jailed at all”

Prepared by prosecutor Veli Dalgalı, the case indictment charged Şahbaz with “curtailing homicide” according to Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Articles 81 and 27/1. 

The 15-page indictment also claimed that “the direct shooting of Sarısülük did not necessarily mean that the suspect directly fired towards Sarısülük”.  

Kazım Bayraktar, Sarısülük family lawyer, said that the suspect was charged with a prison sentence from 16 months to 5 years - which could result in the release of suspect considering sentence reductions. 

I raised the pistol over my shoulder and fired three times in the air. In the meanwhile, I was subjected to several stones thrown by protestors. Those coups might have unbalanced my stability. A stone targeting my elbow might have shifted my pointing and aimed Sarısülük. Protestors were still throwing stones. I acted in order to protect myself. I think it set all the conditions for gun usage,” Şahbaz said previously. 

4 different expert reports 

In additional to existing ones by prosecutor-led investigators, two expert reports have been submitted in the case of Ethem Sarısülük lately. The aforementioned reports were submitted by Klaus Stanjek, a documentary subject at Television and Movie School of Germany, and Cem Kaptanoğlu, chairman of Eskişehir Osman Gazi University Psychiatry department. 

“Self-defense is out of question,” Prof. Dr. Klaus  Stanjek wrote. “It is probable that the policeman had a nervous breakdown or he experienced an extraordinary emotional state.”

On the other hand, the report written by prosecutor-assigned experts - Associate professor Sevilay Çelenk Özen and research assistant Enver Özüstün from Ankara University respectively - had findings that didn’t include in another previous report. 

“Şahbaz pulled his gun prior to approaching protestors and set his gun as he was kicking a protestor on the ground. He shot Ethem while his face was pointed towards Sarısülük,” the report said. 

Who is Ethem Sarısülük?

Ethem Sarısülük was born in July 1986 into a poor family with 5 children. Forth child, he dropped Abidinpaşa Industrial Profession High School and worked on a variety of jobs including portering and weltering. Lately, he was working in Ankara’s OSTİM Organized Industry Zone.

Shot on June 1, Sarısülük died 14 days later. His funeral was held in his hometown Çorum, a central province of Turkey. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.