30.01.2026 18:31
A critical stage has been reached in the judicial process regarding the suspicious death of Sema Esen, known to the public as the Aleyna Çakır case. In the last hearing held in Ankara, the court issued a decision to summon witnesses who could change the course of the case but have not been heard for a long time. The court panel postponed the next session to May 8.
The trial of the defendant Ümitcan Uygun, regarding the death of Sema Esen, known to the public as "Aleyna Çakır," continued. In the case opened against the defendant for "encouraging suicide, strengthening the decision to commit suicide," and "torture," the court decided to send the file to the prosecutor's office for an opinion.
THE TRIAL WAS HELD IN ANKARA
The trial held at the Ankara 34th Heavy Penal Court was attended by Sema Esen's brother, Himmet Esen, and the attorneys of the parties. The defendant Ümitcan Uygun, who is detained in another case, connected to the trial via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS).
THE DEFENDANT REPEATED HIS DEFENSE
After the court president read the documents in the file, the defendant Uygun stated that he was repeating his previous defenses verbatim.
The attorney of the complainant Esen family indicated that they had been waiting for the witnesses to be heard for five sessions, but at this stage, the witness statements would not contribute to the file and requested to abandon the hearing of witnesses.
The defendant's attorney requested the resolution of the missing issues in the file.
PROSECUTOR'S REQUEST FOR FORCED BRINGING
After the statements of the parties, the public prosecutor, whose opinion was sought, requested the forced bringing of the witnesses.
The court, announcing its interim decision, ruled to send the file to the prosecutor's office for the preparation of the opinion on the merits and to forcibly bring the witnesses, and adjourned the trial to May 8.
BACKGROUND OF THE INCIDENT
On June 3, 2020, Ümitcan Uygun went to the house of his girlfriend Sema Esen, who lived in the Yükseltepe neighborhood of Keçiören district in Ankara and used the name "Aleyna Çakır." After the door was not opened, a locksmith was called, and they entered the house, where Esen's lifeless body was found.
In the investigation initiated after the incident, it was determined that the images shared on social media, in which Esen was allegedly assaulted, were taken approximately 1.5 months before the incident. In the prepared indictment, it is requested that the defendant Ümitcan Uygun be punished for "encouraging suicide, strengthening the decision to commit suicide," and "torture" in connection with Esen's death.