Footage of Moment of Being Shot to be Examined Again

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The second hearing of Ethem Sarısülük trial who was shot to death in Gezi Protests in Ankara was held today (April 4) by Aksaray Heavy Penal Court.

The court has once again refused the request of the prosecutor to arrest Ahmet Şahbaz.

Şahbaz attended the hearing with Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

Ethem Sarısülük’s mother Sayfı Sarısülük, his siblings İkrar, Cem, and Mustafa Sarısülük along with as many as 30 people were allowed in the courtroom after body search.

Judge couldn’t “form an opinion”

Republican People’s Party (CHP) MPs Şenal Sarıhan and Gürsel Erol joined today’s hearing with Ethem Sarısülük’s friends and family.

The Chief Judge stated that they examined the footage, however, they couldn’t “form an opinion”:

“We couldn’t form an opinion as to the moment of shooting on the position of the third shooting since everything happens too fast. One footage is clear but we couldn’t form an opinion as to the third shooting”.

Sarısülük family’s attorney Kazım Bayraktar claiming it was willful murder demanded arrest of the defendant police.

Defense attorney: He fired in the air

Şahbaz’s attorney alleged that the person who was appealed for testimony said “police fired in the air without targeting”.

The court committee decided the relevant departments to be notified for deblurring footage and be photographed.

Demand of arrest of the officer Şahbaz was rejected again.

The next hearing is on June 27, 2016.

What had happened?

On June 1, Gezi Park solidarity protestor Ethem Sarısülük (27) was shot by a police fire. He was hopsitalized in Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital. 

On June 6, experts executed an investigation in the crime scene. 

On June 10, nearby surveillance camera footage were found where a riot police officer fired his gun as he was running away from a group of protestors.  Sarısülük was seen falling on the ground after the firing. 

Shot on June 1, Sarısülük died 14 days later. His funeral was held in his hometown Çorum, a central province of Turkey. 

Ballistic reports confirmed that Sarısülük was shot by Şahbaz’s gun. Ankara 13th Peace Assize Court ordered pending trial for Şahbaz as “he stayed within the limits of self-defense”. Objections on the decision was rejected the court. 

Mehmet Can Tayşan, one of the witness on Sarısülük’s shooting, has been ordered for detention. Şahin İmga, another witness on the case call list, has been arrested for other charges.

Sarısülük’s brother and friends were threatened over the phone. (AS/TK)