Supreme Court Reverses Life Sentence for Yıldırım Who Killed Her Rapist

Click to read the article in Turkish

The court also rejected the request for Yıldırım's release.

Nevin Yıldırım was sentenced to life imprisonment for having killed N.G. who raped her at gunpoint and got her pregnant to a baby which she was forced to give birth to. After killing her rapist, Yıldırım had put his head in a sack and threw the sack to the village square.

Reason for reversing is "ongoing investigation"

One of Yıldırım's attorney's Meriç Eyüboğlu speaking to bianet said that the reason for the Supreme Court's decision to set aside the contested decision was an ongoing investigation regarding the murder and added:

"There is another ongoing investigation into Yıldırım's close relatives regarding the 'beheading'. Because there is no fingerprint of Nevin on the knife used in this action. That is why, there is no evidence linking Nevin with this action but still she was considered the perpetrator and sentenced to life in prison. Can a sentence be passed where there is no solid evidence regarding who the murderer is? No it can't", Eyüboğlu said and added:

"Yet completing this investigation can take years, the evidence might be obfuscated as years have passed, and therefore no evidence might be reached. That is why, reversing the challenged decision on the ground of another investigation is not legally correct in my opinion, when Nevin Yıldırım's freedom is considered".

What happened?

Nevin Yıldırım, the mother of two living in Koruyaka village in Isparta, was raped at gunpoint by 35-year old N.G., also father of two, on August 29, 2012.

Following the rape, Yıldırım killed N.G. who raped her, put his head in a sack and threw the sack to the village square saying "here is the head of the one who stained my honour".

Yıldırım also got pregnant after the rape and was forced to give birth to the baby without her consent on November 7, 2012.

She faced aggravated life imprisonment for "planned willful murder with atrocious feelings".

A forensic medicine report confirming that Yıldırım's mental health was intact, was submitted to the court in November 2014.
On March 2015, she was sentenced to life imprisonment. No abatement was imposed on her sentence.

The appeal hearing was held on September 14 before the Supreme Court of Appeal 1st Penal Chamber. Yıldırım was defended by 25 woman attorneys. (EA/DG)