Supreme Court Links Dink Murder Convicts With Crime Organization

Supreme Appeals Court 9th Penal Chamber announced its verdict Wednesday on assassinated journalist Hrant Dink's case after completing its investigation due to an appeal by Ersin Yolcu - one of the convicts.

The verdict defined the acts of all suspects in the case under "an organization formed to commit crime" according to Turkish Penal Code Article 220. Previously, a high criminal court dismissed charges related to "armed terrorist organization".

What decision did the appeals court overthrow?

Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court reached a verdict on Hrant Dink murder case on its 25 hearing on 17 January 2012 - 5 years after the incident. All suspects were found not guilty for "being a terrorist organization member".

Some of the decisions of the court included:

* Yasin Hayal to receive life sentence for ordering murder, 3 years of prison for threatening Orhan Pamuk and 1 year of prison for having an unlicensed gun.

* Osman Hayal to get acquitted for the same charges as Hayal.

* Erhan Tuncel to get acquitted for being an armed terrorist organization member and ordering murder.

* Salih Hacisalihoğlu to serve 2 months and 15 days of prison for having unlicensed ammunition.

* Erhan Tuncel to serve 10 years and 6 months of prison for Mc Donald's bombing.

* Ersin Yolcu and Ahmet İskender to serve 12 years and 6 months of prison for aiding murder.

* Ahmet İskender to serve 1 year of prison for having an unlicensed gun.

* Erhan Tuncel has been released pending a trial. (AS/BM)