Court Issues Capture Warrant For Erhan Tuncel

Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court reopened the Hrant Dink murder case this morning after the Supreme Court of Appeals 9th Penal Chamber overthrew the verdict. 

The court issued a capture warrant for Erhan Tuncel - a top suspect who for planning the murder plot. 

The next hearing was scheduled to December 3 for the statements of non-present defendants. The court will decide whether it will resist its verdict following defendants’ statements. 

The hearing was attended by defendants Yasin Hayal and Hacı Salihoğlu.

While Dink family protested to attend the hearing, plaintiff lawyers 

Fethiye Çetin, Hakan Bakırcıoğlu, İsmail Cem Halavurt and Bahri Belen were present. Among notable observers of the case included deputies Sebahat Tuncel, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Aysel Tuğluk (BDP), Levent Tüzel (independent) and Sezgin Tanrıkulu (CHP).  

Initially, the court panel asked the parties’ requests regarding the overthrown verdict. 

Defendant Yasin Hayal decline the overthrown verdict. "We have a witness saying he has a tape where he is saying that he is going to commit the crime with Erhan Tuncel and run away to Russia. This is the proof that I am immocent," he said. 

Salih Hacisalihoğlu, on the other hand, requested the court to follow the overthrown verdict. The lawyers of Tuncay Uzundal and Ahmet İskender requested the court to resist its original verdict.   

Belen: Appeals Court decision important but insufficient

Bahri Belen, one of Dink family lawyers, requested the court to follow the overthrown verdict.  Underlining the chain of event that led to Dink’s murder, he reminded Yasin Hayal's threats to Orhan Pamuk after his arrest. 

“It is obvious that these people are not a handful of Trabzon-dwellers. There is an organization behind them, so that they can threaten people.”

Belen also added that unknown individuals recently color Agos newspaper’s stairs to crimson-blue, colors for Trabzon SC. 

"It is important the Suppreme Court of Appeals put forward that it is about organized crime. However, we don’t believe that this organized crime is not about theft or robbery. This is where the Supreme Court of Appeals leads to a dead end. They are in a deception. However, the overthrowing is still important. If the court follows the overthrown verdict and collects evidence based on this, I believe that the ‘organization’ can be tried according to the related articles.” 

Belen also added that some prosecutions have been launched on officials in Trabzon province and they will be able to see the overall extend of the trial if these prosecutors are linked to the case. 

“Our request for linling these case were rejected. ECHR ruled that an efficient investigation has not been made on these officials. We file another complaint.” 

Çetin: Supreme Court decision used for the plot

Advocate Fethiye Çetin, on the other hand, emphasized on Dink Family’s decision to protest the hearing. 

"You understand everything once you look at those who are standing trial. We departed in order to see other linkages to organizations. Supreme Court of Appeals 9th Penal Chamber previously confirmed a court verdict regarding Hrant Dink’s conviction of ‘insulting the Turkishness’. Dink was murdered as a result of this. The plot was to have him convicted and declare him as Turkophobe. Dink used to say that this was his death sentence. Hayal also said that he wanted to punish Dink previously. This confession demonstrated how the decision was used for the plot.”

Prosecutor also supported verdict following  

The case prosecutor also requested the court panel to follow the overthrown by the Supreme Court of Appeals.  

He also requested the court panel to issue a capture warrant for Erhan Tuncel, saying that the nature of his crime has altered. 

Responding to prosector’s statement, Tuncel's advocate said that his client was on medical permit and he could submit his address information.  

He also denied allegations on a central organization behind the murder. “However,” he said, “there is a broad and intricate organization departing from the evidence. My client is a victim. The following of overthrown verdict will put the trial into stalemate.” (NV/BM) 

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.