3rd Hearing of Ali Ismail Korkmaz Case

Today, the defendants will stand trial in the case of Ali Ismail case, a Gezi protestor who died in the result of mass beating in Eskişehir province.

Kayseri 3rd High Criminal Court opened the third hearing of Ali Ismail Korkmaz case this morning. The defendants will stand trial for murder charges. 

All statements in the file and technical reports will be read and evaluated on the trial. of Ali Ismail Korkmaz Case Commission declared that Tübitak and Forensic Medicine didn't send demanded reports so they will not submit their opinions today.

Participants of the hearing

The trial started at 09:30 am local time. Family members of killed individuals during Gezi Resistance, deputies and supporters of human rights also entered the courtroom together along with family members of Ali Ismail Korkmaz.

Family members of killed individuals during Gezi Resistance such as Berkin Elvan's father Sami Elvan, Ethem Sarısülük's mother Sayfi Sarısülük, Mehmet Ayvalıtaş’s father Ali Ayvalıtaş, Ahmet Atakan's mother Emsal Atakan and Abdullah Cömert's mother Hatice Cömert are in the hearing room for solidarity with Korkmaz family.  

Many politicians will also observe the hearing including the president candidate of People's Democracy Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş, HDP deputies Sırrı Süreyya Önder and İdris Baluken, CHP deputies İlhan Cihaner, Gökhan Günaydın, Hüseyin Aygün, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Aykut Erdoğdu.

Amnesty International Turkey Campaigns and Advocacy Director Ruhat Sena Akşener and Andrea de Ruijter from Amnesty International Netherlands also observed the case on behalf of Amnesty International.

Defendants

The defendants are also in the hearing room. The trial has 8 defendants in total, 5 of them arrested defendants, one of them is a police officer and 3 police officer defendants without arrest. Mevlüt Saldoğan, one of the police officers without arrest, has been charged with “premeditated murder”, “facing life sentence.

Other defendants İsmail Koyuncu, Ramazan Koyuncu, Muhammet Vatansever ve Ebubekir Harlar and police officers without arrest Şaban Gökpınar, Hüseyin Engin ve Yalçın Akbulut are facing prison terms from 10 to 15 years.

Next hearing on October 9

While the prosecutor opined for the continuation of jailed defendants' status, the court rejected plaintiff attorney's arrest request for other defendants pending a trial.

The next hearing was set to October 9 at 9:30 am. (BK/GOA/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.