* Photo: csgorselarsiv.org/Meltem
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The fourth hearing of the trial over the death of Edanur Kaplan in Turkey's capital city of Ankara was held today (March 22).
Arrested for "aggravated sexual assault" for raping Kaplan and driving her to suicide, defendants Yusuf G. and Mehmet A. appeared before the judge at the Ankara 12th High Criminal Court. The family and lawyers of Kaplan and the arrested defendants were present in the court hall.
As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Fatma Polat, the mother of Edanur Kaplan, took the floor at the hearing and said:
"This is the fourth hearing. I listened to the defendants and lawyers for three hearings. If they are the victims, why is my daughter under the ground? My daughter did not commit suicide in order to express herself. She committed suicide after she had been threatened".
The mother said that she did not want the arrested defendants to be released. "I want justice to be served," she added.
Çisel Demirkan, a lawyer for the Kaplan family, stated that they could not examine the phone records: "We did not have the opportunity to examine the phone records. We request time to examine the report of the records and the continuation of the defendants' arrest".
The arrested defendants requested their acquittal. Following a 5-minute recess after the statements of the defendants, the court board has ruled by a majority of votes that defendant Yusuf G. shall be released on probation and defendant Mehmet A. shall remain behind bars.
The next hearing will be held on April 15. (EMK/SD)
