Colonel Charged With “Neglect” in Dink Murder Dislikes Judge

Trabzon Regional Penal Court, will decide whether Judge Sevki Ulucam will hear the case in which, eight gendarmerie officials are being charged with "neglect" for not taking measures in Trabzon against those planning to murder Hrant Dink.

During the 11th hearing on 28 July, lawyer Ali Surmen of Commander of Trabzon's Provincial Command Post, Colonel Ali Öz, had demanded for a recusation of Judge Ulucam, claiming that he has lost his objectivity.

Hearing on 15 September

Petty Officer Okan Simsek and Gendarmerie Master Sergeant Veysel Sahin, who are both being charged with "misconduct by means of neglect" have been released pending the outcome of the trial. Their lawyer Nurhayat Bayraktar Gumrukcuoglu stated that they would make their defence after the decision on the demand for a recusation of the judge. The trial will continue on 15 September.

Set off from Pelitli, he killed in Sisli

Ogun Samast, who set off from Trabzon Pelitli, killed Dink in front of the offices of Agos newspaper in Sisli on 19 January 2007, despite warnings of an attack a year ago. Only three of the suspects are under arrest. Besides Samast, Yasin Hayal, who is accused of instigating the murder and police informant Erhan Tuncel are also under arrest pending the outcome of the trial.

Besides Ali Oz and Gendarmerie Major Metin Yıldız, Sergeants Gazi Gunay and Huseyin Yilmaz, Sergeant Major Okan Simsek, and Specialist Sergeants Veysel Sahin, Haci Omer Unalir and Onder Araz face prison sentences of six months to two years for "neglect." (EO/EA)