Malatya Murders: More People Involved?

Orhan Kemal Cengiz, from the lawyers' team of the victims relatives in the Malatya murder case, is of the opinion that more than five people were involved in the killings. 

“However prepared the defendants’ statements were, it was still possible to find out details such as the close relationship between Emre Günaydin and the chief of police. Of course, the question is whether, despite this information, we will be able to go beyond the current picture,” he told bianet after the second hearing of the trial on 14 January, 

Cengiz evaluated the statement of defendant Hamit Ceker as vital. Two other suspects, Kocadag and Gökce, also talked about the main suspect Günaydin.

Insufficient access to material 

The joint attorney criticised the fact that the Malatya court had refused to give the lawyers certain materials: “In order to question the defendants properly, we need to be in control of the material and information in the case file.”

The decision to adjourn until 25 February had been a joint decision by the court and the lawyers on both sides, because the questioning of a detained subject could last up to five hours. The court had been in session from 9 am until 7 pm, and it was thus decided to postpone.

Asked whether questioning the undetained suspects first was a sensible order, Cengiz said: “It is a logical order. If you listen to everyone else first, then you can later ask the main suspect more questions.” (NZ/TK/AG)