12.03.2026 15:19
In the Kızıltepe district of Mardin, a request for three times aggravated life imprisonment has been made for Mirhan C., who was arrested in connection with the murder of Mehmet-Berna Kaya and their 5-year-old daughter. It was learned that the defendant stated in his testimony that Mehmet Kaya was searching for historical artifacts and claimed to have found one. Additionally, it was revealed that Mirhan C. told someone, "I will be in either a very good or a very bad place within a month."
The investigation initiated by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the discovery of Mehmet, his wife Berna, and their 5-year-old daughter Samyeli Kaya shot dead in their apartment in the Turgut Özal neighborhood of Kızıltepe, Mardin, on November 25, 2025, has been completed. The indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office against the detained defendant Mirhan C. includes charges of "premeditated murder," "purchasing, carrying, or possessing firearms and ammunition without a license," and "robbery with a firearm at night," while charges of "destroying, concealing, or altering evidence" were prepared against Bünyamin K. and Vedat E. The indictment was accepted by the 5th Heavy Penal Court.
The indictment states that the relatives of the three murdered individuals, who could not reach them, informed the defendant Mirhan C. It is noted in the indictment that the defendant Mirhan C. opened the door of the house where the family lived with a piece of a plastic cola bottle, accompanied by the building manager and the neighborhood muhtar, and that an investigation was initiated following a report that the three victims were found shot in the head in the living room.
FEUD BEGAN WHEN 4 BRACELETS WERE STOLEN
The indictment states that detained defendant Mirhan C. and his girlfriend B. S. went to Mardin from Kızıltepe with the victims Mehmet and Berna Kaya, who were to take the Public Personnel Selection Exam (KPSS) about two months before the incident.
It is recorded in the indictment that the victim Berna Kaya gave her handbag to B. S. before taking the exam, and the following is noted:
"Victim Samyeli Kaya waited in the car with the defendant Mirhan C. and his girlfriend. When they returned after the exam, the Kaya couple realized after a while that the 4 bracelets in the bag were missing and thought that the defendant Mirhan C. and his girlfriend had taken them. This situation was communicated to Mirhan C., but the defendant denied the allegations. Mirhan C. developed a feud with the Kaya couple as a result of the accusations directed at him and his girlfriend."
"I WILL EITHER BE IN A VERY GOOD PLACE OR A VERY BAD PLACE IN A MONTH"
The indictment states that in the defendant Mirhan C's statement, he expressed that he knew the victim Mehmet Kaya was searching for historical artifacts and had found one, while B. S. stated that Mirhan C. told her, "I will either be in a very good place or a very bad place in a month."
"HE ACTED TO KILL THE FAMILY AND TAKE HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS"
The indictment includes the following findings: "It has been understood that the defendant acted with the intent to kill the victims and take the historical artifacts and valuable items located in the residence. The defendant Mirhan C. obtained the gun used in the crime and 3 bullets from B. A. for 17,500 lira three days before the incident. On the day of the incident, Mirhan C. went to the victims' residence, sat on the couch in the living room to the left of the victim Mehmet Kaya, pointed the gun he brought to the left temple of the victim Mehmet Kaya, fired one shot, then brought the gun close to the right temple of the victim Berna Kaya and fired one shot, and fired one shot close to the nose of the victim Samyeli Kaya, killing all three at the scene."
In the defendant Mirhan C's defense, it was determined that his statement claiming that he shot himself after killing the victim Mehmet Kaya's wife and daughter was aimed at evading the crime, as stated in the indictment, which included the following expressions:
"The defendant Mirhan C. carried out the act of killing in a calm manner according to the plan he prepared. It has been determined that the defendant searched for historical artifacts and valuable items in the residence, and left with a bag containing a necklace, gold bracelets, gold rings, gold earrings, silver rings, wristwatches, prayer beads, a cufflink, and approximately 20,000 lira in cash, the gun used in the crime, one live bullet, and one cartridge."
"GIFTING VALUABLE ITEMS AND MONEY IS AGAINST THE NATURAL FLOW OF LIFE"
The conclusion section of the indictment includes the following evaluation: "Although the defendant Mirhan C. claimed in his defense that the bag containing a necklace, gold bracelets, and money was a gift from the victim Mehmet Kaya before the incident, the suspect stated in his police statement that the victim owed him 100,000 lira. It is contrary to the natural flow of life for a victim with such a debt to gift this amount of valuable items and money to the suspect. It has been determined that after leaving the residence, the defendant rented a vehicle, returned to the residence, and left the crime scene with the bag belonging to the victims, the gun, and the clothes he was wearing during the incident."
It has been found that gunshot residues were detected on one of the four blue nylon gloves seized during the search of the defendant Mirhan C's clothes and residence, and blood samples belonging to the victim Mehmet Kaya were found in the rented vehicle. Mirhan C. told his friends, defendants Bünyamin K. and Vedat E., about the incident. It has been determined that the defendants together threw the gun used in the crime into a manhole near the residence of the suspect Vedat E., and that Mirhan C. washed and wiped the rented vehicle at a gas station. It has been understood that there is sufficient suspicion that the defendants committed the crimes attributed to them, and it is requested that they be punished on behalf of the public.
HEAVY LIFE IMPRISONMENT SOUGHT 3 TIMES
The indictment seeks heavy life imprisonment three times for the detained defendant Mirhan C. for the crimes of "premeditated murder," "purchasing, carrying, or possessing firearms and ammunition without a license," and "robbery with a firearm at night," and from 11 to 18 years in prison for Bünyamin K. and Vedat E. for the crime of "destroying, concealing, or altering evidence."
"WE HOPE THE TRIAL WILL LEAD US TO THE MATERIAL TRUTH"
Nurullah Öner, one of the lawyers of the Kaya family, stated that this incident has caused a great uproar and reminded that the investigation has been conducted in secrecy in accordance with the decision taken.
Öner stated that the defendant Mirhan C. will be tried for "premeditated murder" in the indictment, adding, "We believe that there is a high possibility that the legal qualification of the charges against the two detained defendants will change."
We believe that the indictment has been prepared after a generally good process, but there are some parts that remain unclear. At this point, we think that the issues that were lacking during the investigation phase should be thoroughly examined by the court during the trial phase, and the material facts of the incident should be revealed in all their details." he said.
Lawyer Seher Acay also stated that the massacre of a family constitutes a grave situation.
Acay, who noted that the meticulously prepared indictment was accepted after a lengthy investigation, used the expression, "We are fully hopeful that the trial will lead us to the material truth."
On November 25, 2025, in the Turgut Özal neighborhood of Kızıltepe district in Mardin, Mehmet (37), his wife Berna (33), and their 5-year-old daughter Samyeli Kaya were found dead with gunshot wounds to their heads in their home. In relation to the incident, Mirhan C, Bünyamin K, Vedat E., and B. A were arrested, and the case of B. A was separated within the investigation.