Prime Suspect of Woman Murder Absent at Court

Gazi Baltacı is the prime suspect in the trial regarding the killing of Necla Yıldız. The woman was stabbed to death in the middle of a street nine months ago. The Forensic Medicine Institute failed to prepare a report on Baltacı's mental health until the first hearing of the case held on Tuesday (19 July). Hence, the defendant was not brought to court.

Lawyer İlke Işık Sağdıç, legal advisor of the family of Necla Yıldız, told bianet that the first session of the trial was short because the statement of the defendant could not be taken. The Ankara Bar Association, the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and the Office Workers' Union (BES) applied for co-plaintiff status. The Ankara 10^th High Criminal Court announced that the decision was going to be given in the presence of the defendant.

Lawyer Sağdıç pointed out that many men like Gazi Baltacı tried to hide behind the excuse of a "mental disorder" in this sort of trials. The coming hearing was set for 15 September 2011.

Trial observers

The BES issued a press release prior to the first hearing of the case. The press release was attended by the ÇHG, the Human Rights Association (İHD), the Ankara Bar Association, the BES Chairman, the President of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK), the KESK Women Secretary, the Secretary General of the Municipal and Local Authority Trade Union (Tüm Bel-Sen), the Women Secretary of the Health and Social Service Workers Union (SES), and members and executives of unions affiliated with KESK. The statement was read out by BES Secretary General İlknur Bilgen.

She said, "We demand to acknowledge women murders as a reason for special aggravation by the Turkish Criminal Law. A mitigation of punishment because of provocation should not be applied for women murders. We also demand to investigate threats against women with priority and to amend legal matters in a way that protective measures will be taken immediately".

It was furthermore said that the BES members are going to follow up the trial with determination. (GY/VK)