10 Hours in Kayseri Courthouse For Ali Ismail Korkmaz Trial

I was in Kayseri, for the second hearing of Ali İsmail Korkmaz case.

I was nervous, even days before. To go to hear the case, get on the plane for the first time, to go to another city for the news, to know that the case is about Ali İsmail Korkmaz’s suspects being judged hit the spot.

I hit the road at cock-crow. People from many cities got on the buses at night. I looked around to see anyone familiar and noticed that I was going to the case with a someone whom I later found out that she was Lawyer Ceren Kalı. More people cross paths, it is good but should it cross like this?

Attempts to pass the barricades

The day dawned as we were flying. As Kayseri Police notified, all roads leading to the courthouse were closed to traffic. We saw riot control vehicles and forces through the street. We were received in the airport and taken to the courthouse. There, we came across with police barricades built in labyrinth formation as in Taksim in May Day.

We were lead to an entrance, and another, and another one after that. A plain-clothed “authorized person” told that only lawyers are allowed inside and I started waiting, telling them that we must come to an agreement. I considered myself passed the test when one of them came to me and told me that I will enter from where only lawyers are allowed.

The court room

I didn’t like the courtrooms. I have been to cases which would make me happy when suspects are released. I always thought that being unable go out of that room is the most absurd thing. Now I feel exactly the opposite, as in every condition I want justice.

Conference hall is prepared for the hearing. I was surprised that the halls were made up of small rooms as in Çağlayan Courthouse.

Korkmaz family was there, lawyers were everywhere, even the members of the parliament came. All familiar faces, friends, other correspondent with which we ran under tear gas on the streets were there. 

“The witness who was in Gezi” told everything

Suspects came. The hearing started. It was revealed that Tübitak did not provide the surveillance records involving the battering of Ali İsmal Korkmaz. Berkin Elvan’s father Sami Elvan, Ahmet Atakan's brother Zafer Atakan and the Bar Associatons of Balıkesir and Mersin with Ali İsmail’s brother Gürkan Korkmaz’s seven month old son Ali Yusuf were denied participation.

The witnesses were heard. First witness Semih Berkay Yapıcı told. He saw that Ali İsmail was battered, that he couldn’t do anything and wrote to ekşisözlük what he saw. I recalled the moment I read that entry. Korkmaz family, lawyers, people in the hall and suspects listened. Except one, he identified all suspects, watched the records and confirmed his identification.

Lawyers of the witnesses started asking questions. The surname of his friend at the time of incident, whether he joined Gezi protests, why didn’t something happen to him were asked and released suspect officer Şaban Gökpınar’s question got reactions: “How much can the testimony of someone who joined Gezi protests be trusted?”

“This is Turkey”

We had a break. There were people outside for solidarity. Alongside Korkmaz family, Mehmet Ayvalıtaş’s father and Ahmet Atakan’s brother made speeches. They were furious, but they kept looking for justice, brother Gürkan Korkmaz said that the judging went fine.

I overheard two people talking with a policeman. Apparently, the policemen says that they work under harsh conditions, others tell him that they should found a union, go on a slowdown strike. I heard the policeman responding: “This is Turkey”.

It’s true, “This is Turkey”.

His friends spoke

After Yapıcı, friends of Ali İsmail Korkmaz who were there with him the whole time testified as witnesses. The surveillance records Ali İsmail Korkmaz walking with his friend Turhan Güler was watched for the first time.

It was difficult. For them, for the listeners, and mostly for Korkmaz family. I wrote it and Ayça put it on the website from Istanbul. 

Lawyers of the suspects sometimes made it difficult with their questions.

“Mevlüt Saldoğan’s lawyer asked: “He told the doctors about the disorder. The doctor said that he must be sent to a neural surgeon at Yunus Emre Hospital, they’re all adults, and so is Ali İsmail, why wasn’t he sent?”

“Okan Korkmaz replied: ‘The doctor in the emergency room said that there is nothing in his head, and if we want, we should go and have a check-up. We were going to have it anyway but couldn’t because of a forensic incident” 

The next three suspects were brothers that sat across the bakery Ali İsmail Korkmaz was battered . They told what they saw from the window. 

During the hearing, suspects and their lawyers were constantly backlashed. Korkmaz family lawyers and their efforts were applauded mostly by the people in the hall. The chief judge had intentions to end the hearing in a clean manner.

Next hearing on July 14 

I had to be on my way. As I got out, the crowd was still there. Policemen were sitting along the road. I stepped into a taxi. The driver asked if the hearing finished, and I said it continues.

The hearing ended 14 hours later. The next hearing is on the July 14. (BK/BAR/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.