Two Gendarmerie to be Tried for Negligence in Dink Murder

The Trabzon Chief Public Prosecution has put two gendarmerie officers on trial for "negligence" in the murder of "Agos" newspaper's editor-in-chief Hrant Dink.

The prosecution argues that the officers knew of plans to murder Hrant Dink but did not act on the information. The files on the two gendarmerie officers have been sent to the Trabzon Criminal Court of Peace. It is not clear when the trial will start.

V.S. called as witness but not yet heard 

Erdal Dogan, lawyer of the Dink family, said that they have not officially been informed of the indictment, but that one of the men, V.S., had been called as a witness to the 14th Heavy Penal Court in the Dink murder case. The Dink family representatives had requested that V.S. be questioned at a later date, and that request had been granted.

Inspectors had called for investigation of four gendarmerie officers 

The Trabzon prosecution had investigated eight gendarmerie officers attached to the Trabzon Province Command and the Pelitli Command (also in Trabzon province) for possible negligence. Noncommissioned officer O.S. and sergeant V.S. will be tried under Article 257/2, with a prison sentence of between six months and two years possible.

Inspectors attached to the Ministry of the Interior had also investigated the eight officers and had called for permission to further investigate four of them. The Trabzon Governor's Office Administrative Board gave permission for O.S. and V.S. to be investigated further and had sent their files to the Trabzon Chief Public Prosecution. (EÖ/AG)