Court Issues Reasoned Judgment in Sevag Balıkçı Case

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Sevag Balıkçı, an Armenian citizen of Turkey, was shot dead on April 24, 2011, in the southeastern Batman province where he served in the military.

The perpetrator, who was also a conscript at the time, was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison for "possible willful murder" by Batman 1st Heavy Penal Court.

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The court announced its reasoned judgment today (February 4), Agos reported. It stated that the sound of locking the weapon was heard and the defendant, although he predicted the weapon could fire and kill Balıkçı, continued his action.

However, the court sentenced the defendant for "possible willful murder" rather than "willful murder" on the ground that there was no animosity between him and Balıkçı. It stated that they were friends and joked with each other at times, including just before the incident.

Considering there was no statement in the case that said the defendant willfully pulled the trigger, the court stated that he "somehow pulled the trigger unintentionally."

It stated that although the defendant did not "directly wanted" the consequence, acknowledged the possible consequence, hence it concluded that the case was a possibly willful morder. (AÖ/VK)