Police officer given 25-year prison sentence for killing refugee

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Police officer F.K. has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for "willful murder" in the case concerning the killing of Ali Hemdan, a refugee from Syria, in the southern province of Adana last year.

The officer, who was remanded in custody, attended the hearing at the Adana 9th Heavy Penal Court via videoconference. The attorneys of the officer and lawyers from the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) were present in the courtroom.

Video footage showing the incident refuted the defendant's claims that he had shot the refugee by accident after "my foot slipped," Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reported. Hemdan was walking backwards slowly while his face was towards the officer, who drew his weapon and shot the refugee, according to the footage.

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The prosecutors demanded a sentence for the officer for "willful murder."

The attorney of the Hemdan family, Rıdvan Şahin, stated the footage proved that the refugee had not tried to escape.

"A person was killed for no reason. An aggravated life sentence is needed," he said.

Repeating his previous statements, officer F.K. said he shot the man by accident and he did not intend to kill him.

Announcing its verdict, the court sentenced F.K. to life imprisonment and then reduced the sentence to 25 years in prison. (AÖ/VK)