27.02.2025 13:00
Bedirhan Şener, the son of former minister Abdüllatif Şener, who fatally shot his grandmother he had taken hostage in Ankara, has been sentenced to life in prison. When asked for his final words in court, Bedirhan Şener stated, "My grandmother is one of the people I love most in the world. It is out of the question for me to intentionally commit such an act against my grandmother."
Bedirhan Şener, the son of former minister Abdüllatif Şener, who shot and killed his grandmother he had taken hostage in Ankara, appeared before the judge. The detained defendant Bedirhan Şener, his family, and his lawyers attended the hearing at the Ankara 1st High Criminal Court. After the presiding judge read the documents that had arrived in the case file, the public prosecutor, who was given the floor, stated that he was repeating the opinion he had given in the previous session. Later, the defendant's lawyer, Can Kızılyar, argued that a detailed investigation had not been conducted by the Forensic Medicine Institution, claiming that the past reports of his client were contradictory to the current reports.
"HE EXPERIENCED A PSYCHOTIC ATTACK DURING THE INCIDENT"
Kızılyar, who argued that a site visit should be conducted by the court, stated, "It is clear that my client experienced a psychotic attack during the incident and was not himself. It is evident that my client did not target any specific point. My client's mother, Ms. Berrin, went to the apartment door without even ringing the bell on the day of the incident. As soon as the door was opened, random shots were fired." Kızılyar expressed that the victim was accompanied by the defendant's mother during the incident, stating that Şener did not fire a single bullet at his mother and that he had no intention to kill. Lawyer Kızılyar noted that his client was a schizophrenia patient and requested that he be acquitted for this reason.
"MY GRANDMOTHER IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE I LOVE MOST IN THE WORLD"
When asked for his last words, defendant Bedirhan Şener stated, "My grandmother is one of the people I love most in the world. When the earthquake occurred, she was living in Osmaniye, and her house was destroyed. Although we have many relatives in Ankara, I brought my grandmother here because I love her very much. It is impossible for me to intentionally commit such an act against my grandmother. The same goes for my mother. I request my acquittal and release."
SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
After taking the statements, the court panel announced its decision, ruling for the acquittal of the defendant due to insufficient evidence regarding the act against his mother, Berrin Şener. The court sentenced Şener to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional murder against a direct relative" for killing his grandmother, Leyla Çetiner, with a firearm. The court reduced Şener's sentence to life imprisonment by applying the discount in Article 62 of the Turkish Penal Code due to his good behavior during the hearings. Şener was also sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison for the crime of "possessing an unlicensed firearm."