Verdict in Ceren Özdemir Murder Case: Aggravated Life Sentence
* Source and photos: AA
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The second and final hearing of the lawsuit filed into the killing of Ceren Özdemir was held at the Ordu 1st Heavy Penal Court today (January 20).
Announcing its verdict, the Ordu 1st Heavy Penal Court has ruled that defendant Özgür Arduç shall be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment on charge of "wilful murder with monstrous feeling."
There were two separate indictments against the murder suspect. The indictments demanded that Arduç be sentenced to life imprisonment aggravated for three times for killing Ceren Özdemir and attempting to kill two police officers. It was also demanded in the indictments that murder suspect Özgür Arduç be given no good conduct abatement.
Ceren Özdemir was a junior student at Ordu University Faculty of Fine Arts. He was stabbed to death in front of her house.
Today's hearing was attended by Ceren's father Yılmaz, her mother Güfer and big sister Gizem Özdemir and her relatives, Ordu Bar Association Chair and lawyer of Özdemir family Haluk Murat Poyraz, lawyer of the defendant Sabahnur Kaygusuz, the lawyer of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services and representatives of some bar associations and women's rights organizations. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ordu MP Mustafa Adıgüzel was also present at court.
Arrested in Van High-Security Penal Institution in eastern Turkey, Arduç attended the hearing via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS).
In the second hearing held at the Ordu 1st Heavy Penal Court, Presiding Judge İbrahim Akbulut shared information about the report that documented that defendant Arduç was mentally stable. While Arduç requested another report, his lawyer said, "The judgement rests with the court."
As the Presiding Judge said that they unanimously deemed the current report sufficient and rejected the request, the defendant said, "If you don't give me a report, then hospitalize me."
Mother Özdemir: Give him the heaviest sentence
As for mother Güfer Özdemir, she stated, "I told you that he was mentally stable. I reject that a new report be given. I want him to be given the heaviest sentence." Big sister Gizem Özdemir also requested the heaviest possible sentence for murder suspect Özgür Arduç.
Indicating that the report on the mental stability of the defendant had been added to the file, the lawyer of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services requested that the court board announce its ruling today.
Evaluating the requests of some bar associations to get involved in the case, the court board rejected the requests.
His other hearing on February 10
The court board has ruled that defendant Özgür Arduç shall be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment on charge of "wilful murder with monstrous feeling." Announcing that no good conduct abatement has been given to the defendant as per the Article 62 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the court has also ruled for the continuation of his arrest.
Facing another lawsuit for attempting to kill two police officers, Özgür Arduç will have his hearing on February 10, 2020.
The verdict of the court was acclaimed by the audience.
What happened?Ballet dancer Ceren Özdemir was subjected to a knife attack by an unidentified person in front of her house in Altınordu district in Turkey's Black Sea province of Ordu. While the assaulter fled after the incident, police officers and paramedics came to the scene of incident. Provided with first aid by paramedics, Özdemir was hospitalized in Ordu University Training and Research Hospital. Ceren Özdemir lost her life there. Launching an investigation into the murder, the police examined the video footage captured by the surveillance cameras in the vicinity. It was determined that Özdemir walked from his ballet course to her house for 2.5 kilometers and he was followed all through her walk. Özgür Arduçwas caught by the police and he confessed to the crime. |
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