Suspicious death of Duygu Delen: Objection to defendant’s release

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The Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has objected to the release of Mehmet K., the defendant who was arrested pending trial over the death of 17-year-old Duygu Delen, who lost her life after falling from the balcony of her boyfriend K.'s house on August 13, 2020.

After Delen died by falling from the fourth floor of a five-storey building in Şehitkamil district of southeastern Gaziantep province, Mehmet K. alleged that Duygu Delen committed suicide. However, an investigation was launched against Mehmet K. amid suspicions of murder.

While the defendant was arrested pending trial, the 10th Heavy Penal Court released him to house arrest on June 16. The Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has appealed against this ruling.

When the investigation against Mehmet K. was concluded, a lawsuit was filed against him for "wilful killing", "sexual abuse of a child", "plunder", "insult". He faces aggravated life sentence and up to 32 years.

In justifying its ruling of release, the 10th Heavy Penal Court has ruled that the data regarding the death of Delen shall be sent to the Forensic Medicine Institution to issue a report on whether she was conscious or not and how the ecchymoses in the shape of rails in her body were formed.

In response to this, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has objected to the related ruling by releasing a written statement. With this statement, the Office has announced that it has appealed against the ruling.

What happened?

Duygu Delen suspiciously lost her life by falling off the house of a man named Mehmet K. in Antep on August 13, 2020. She was 17 years old.

Her friends said that Delen did not commit suicide and that Mehmet K. was responsible for her death. Mehmet K. was detained. He said that "they had a row and Duygu Delen jumped off the window herself."

Mehmet K. was arrested on charges of "sexual abuse of the child" and "wilful murder" on August 14. It was also understood that he drove while he was drunk and caused the death of a woman before.

The bill of indictment prepared by the Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded that Mehmet K. be penalized on charges of "wilful killing of a child" as well as "aggravated sexual abuse of a child", "insult" and "plunder in residence." He faces aggravated life imprisonment and prison sentences on the offenses charged. (BS/EMK/SD)