Life Sentence for Husband

In Siirt, in the southeast of Turkey, the murder trial of Esin Güneş has ended. Her husband, G.G., has received a life sentence for throwing his wife down a precipice, killing her with intent. Another defendant, taxi driver B.Ü., was accused of aiding G.G. in the murder, but he was acquitted due to lack of evidence of his participation.

Abdulhakim Gider, the lawyer for the family of the deceased, has told bianet that G.G. was initially handed a life sentence in solitary confinement and no possibility of parole, but that it was then reduced to a regular life sentence due to good conduct. Taxi driver B.Ü. now faces a criminal complaint for failure to render assistance or get help.

Lawyer Gider has announced that he would file an appeal against the court decision:

“There are discrepancies and missing information in the court decision. There is enough evidence in the files to show that B.Ü. did not only participate in the crime as a hepler but is one of the perpetrators.

We are further going to appeal against the fact that G.G. has not been punished for a planned murder and that he has been given a reduction in his initial sentence.

We have been saddened by the fact that some of the units carrying out the inquiry have protected and acquitted a person, but the court of appeals will deal with that. I am convinced that someone committing violent acts against a woman will not remain unpunished. I trust the law and that we will have a positive result. The evidence in the files is enough to convict the accused.”

 Complaints against public officials protecting perpetrators

Gider recalls that it was first claimed that Esin Güneş fell off the precipice by accident. When her family filed a complaint, the prosecution first decided not to proceed. According to the  lawyer, there have been illegal acts regarding the file in the two and half years of the trial; evidence has been destroyed.

The lawyer has announced that he would file a criminal complaint against those public officials who attempted to protect the accused during the investigation.

“The procedures for a murder inquiry were not followed. The individuals were not treated as suspects, but more like heroes and they were protected. The principle of a just trial was violated. However, at least the outcome of the trial represents a small consolation for the family.” (ÇT/AG/KU)