Ankara 6th High Criminal Court Penal announced that it has withdrawn from Ethem Sarısülük killing case on the third hearing this afternoon, acting upon defense attorneys’ motions on impartiality.
The court sent the case to Ankara 7th High Criminal Court.
While dozens of people assembled on the steps of the courthouse to support the cause, the group was confronted by a unit of policemen.
Using the video-conference systems, suspect Ahmet Şahbaz submitted his statement from Urfa province.
On the previous hearing, Şahbaz wore wig and glasses to conceal his identity.
“The suspect has no photograph attached to the case file. We would like to find out whether he is the real suspect,” Sarısülük’s advocate Kazım Bayraktar said.
Following the announcement of indictment, suspect Şahbaz submitted his written statement to the court.
“I have no fault in the dead of Sarısülük. Those who threw stones at me are responsible,” the statement cited.
The hearing was observed by several notable spectators including parliamentary deputies Hüseyin Aygün, lhan Cihaner, Mahmut Tanal and Ertuğrul Kürkçü.