HRANT DINK MURDER

Ogün Samast who killed Agos Chief Editor Hrant Dink, stands accused of "being a member of an illegal organization". The trial continued on April 26,2012. Ogün Samast did not attend the hearing.

The defendants including Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel were acquitted of charges of membership of an illegal organization due to lack of evidence by 14.High Criminal Court before; however the court delegation headed by President Celal Ünal decided to wait for Supreme Court's final decision.

The court stated that 13. High Criminal Court hearing the Ergenekon cases sent them some parts of the Ergenekon case records including Hrant Dink's name and therefore the court decided to request Ergenekon indictments.

Samast's Lawyer Levent Yıldırım asked for the rejection of this decision. "These requests will not influence our case directly. Such requests will protract our lawsuit unnecessarily. Istanbul 14. High Criminal Court brought in a verdict of non-guilty. Extending the case will not help" said Levent Yıldırım.

"This court may decide 'there's an organization' "

Cem Halavurt, Lawyer of Dink's family talked to bianet and stated that it's possible for 2. Children's High Criminal Court to decide contrary to the decision of 14. High Criminal Court.

"We have requested the Court to extend the investigation.  An extensive investigation has a great importance to uncover the organizational structure. it's possible for 2. Children's High Criminal Court to decide contrary to the decision of 14. High Criminal Court" said Halavurt.

The next hearing will be held on September 18, 2012 at 11:00am.

What had happened?

Dink's murderer Ogun Samast was sentenced to a total of 22 years and 10 months in prison with charges of "premeditated murder" and "unlicensed possession of weapons". There was another case file of Ogün Samast regarding " being a member of an illegal operation". Children's Court waited for the decision of Istanbul 14. High Criminal Court before giving a decision. The defendants including Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel were acquitted of charges of membership of an illegal organization due to lack of evidence by 14.High Criminal Court  at the 285. hearing of the case, on January 17, 2012. The decision was sent to the Supreme Court. (IC)