‘No Crime Scene Investigation Conducted in Prison After Death of Inmate’

Click to read the article in Turkish

The trial regarding Emrah İlhan, who was murdered in Silivri Prison after being battered by another inmate staying in the same prison ward with him, started at the Silivri 1st Penal Court of Peace today (January 29).

20-year-old Emrah İlhan, who was also a prisoner himself, lost his life after he was battered by another inmate, the 19-year-old Emre Ödük on April 10, 2017. Ödük has been facing the charge of "reckless killing". In the indictment filed against Ödük, it has been stated that "Ödük punched İlhan after a quarrel erupted between them for unknown reasons."

Defendant: "I didn't hit him, he passed out himself"

The first hearing of the case was attended by İlhan's mother Naile İlhan, his sister Zehra İlhan and their attorneys Gülseren Yoleri, who is also the Chair of Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch, and Hakan Günaslan.

Presenting his statement of defense, defendant Emre Ödük said, "I didn't hit him, he passed out and fell to the ground himself." However, the report prepared by the 1st Specialized Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute has indicated that the death of Emrah İlhan was caused by trauma.

"Indictment solely consists of statements"

Speaking to bianet about the issue, attorney Gülseren Yoleri has stated that they have requested the elimination of shortcomings in the case file:

"The investigation of Prosecutor's Office is very insufficient, the indictment solely consists of statements added to file by copy-paste. No crime scene investigation was carried out, it has serious shortcomings. Though it is a file involving death, no proper investigation has been conducted.

"In the hearing held today, we requested that the people who could have relations with this incident be listened as witnesses. The court has accepted both this request and the one raised by the mother and sister of İlhan for involving in the trial. The court will announce its ruling regarding our request for the extension of the investigation later on."

Eight people related to the incident have been summoned as witnesses.

The next hearing of the case will be held on July 16, 2018. (AS/SD)