Police in torture trial get no lawyers
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Radikal
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 11, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Hearings began Friday in the case of Mustafa Kükçe, a 24-year-old man who died in prison.
Kükçe was arrested June 14, 2007, on charges of burglary and taken to three police stations before being sent to prison, where he died June 16. His family saw an unconscious Kükçe being carried out from the third police station where he was taken.
Two years later, the first hearing is being held into his death, which his family claims was the result of torture.
Not usual for headquarters not to assign lawyers
Contrary to its typical procedure, Police Headquarters did not provided lawyers to the seven suspects from the police force who are standing trial for "causing death through intentionally inflicted injury." A prison term of 16 years is being sought if the defendants are found guilty.
Suspected police officers Talip Aksoy, Ahmet Altun and Elvan Çakıcı attended the hearing; the other four were absent. Kükçe’s father and wife attended as complainants, along with their lawyer. The testimony of the accused police officers present could not be taken because they had no lawyers accompanying them. The officers said they would hire lawyers themselves for the next hearing.
During the hearing, Adem Kükçe, Mustafa’s father, said: "They killed my son by torture. I want them to be punished." The victim’s widow, Sevda Kükçe, said she also blames the prosecutor for not sending her husband to the hospital at the time.
Erdal Kesen, the lawyer for the Kükçe family, said the investigation into the case took two years and that the process was slowed by bureaucracy.
Two years later, the first hearing is being held into his death, which his family claims was the result of torture.
Not usual for headquarters not to assign lawyers
Contrary to its typical procedure, Police Headquarters did not provided lawyers to the seven suspects from the police force who are standing trial for "causing death through intentionally inflicted injury." A prison term of 16 years is being sought if the defendants are found guilty.
Suspected police officers Talip Aksoy, Ahmet Altun and Elvan Çakıcı attended the hearing; the other four were absent. Kükçe’s father and wife attended as complainants, along with their lawyer. The testimony of the accused police officers present could not be taken because they had no lawyers accompanying them. The officers said they would hire lawyers themselves for the next hearing.
During the hearing, Adem Kükçe, Mustafa’s father, said: "They killed my son by torture. I want them to be punished." The victim’s widow, Sevda Kükçe, said she also blames the prosecutor for not sending her husband to the hospital at the time.
Erdal Kesen, the lawyer for the Kükçe family, said the investigation into the case took two years and that the process was slowed by bureaucracy.