19.02.2026 19:36
Ismet Ceylan, who caused the death of Doctor Mehmet and his wife Güler Baltacı under the overturned decorative arch at the garden entrance of a wedding hall in the Menemen district of İzmir, was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison.
Ismet Ceylan (30), the detained defendant in relation to the deaths of Doctor Mehmet Baltacı (35) and his wife Güler Baltacı (35), who were trapped under a fallen decorative arch at the garden entrance of a wedding hall in the Menemen district of İzmir, was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison.
The incident occurred on May 25 of last year around 1:00 PM at the wedding hall in Yahşelli Neighborhood. A kindergarten organized a breakfast event for parents.
DECORATIVE ARCH FELL ON THE COUPLE
Practitioner Mehmet Fatih Baltacı and his wife Güler Baltacı also attended the event of the kindergarten their daughter goes to, at İzmir City Hospital's Pediatric Emergency Medicine Clinic. After the program, as the couple headed towards the door to exit the hall, the decorative arch at the garden entrance fell on them. Their daughter, who was next to the couple, escaped the incident unharmed. The Baltacı couple was taken to Menemen State Hospital by ambulances. Doctor Mehmet Baltacı, one of the injured who received treatment, could not be saved. Güler Baltacı, who was transferred to İzmir City Hospital, also lost her life. Doctor Mehmet Baltacı and his wife Güler Baltacı were buried in the Gölbaşı district of Ankara. Meanwhile, the incident was captured on security cameras.
INDICTMENT ACCEPTED
As part of the investigation, the owner of the wedding hall, operators Ismet Ceylan, his mother N.C., and his father G.C. (57) were detained on the day of the incident. After their procedures, the suspects were referred to the courthouse on May 26, 2025, where Ismet Ceylan was arrested, while his mother and father were released under judicial control. Following the investigation, an indictment was prepared against operator Ceylan and his father G.C. for the crime of 'causing the death of multiple people by negligence,' seeking a prison sentence of 2 to 15 years. A decision of non-prosecution was issued for the suspect mother N.C. The defendants began to be tried at the Karşıyaka 3rd High Criminal Court. In the last hearing, the prosecutor presented his opinion on the merits. In the opinion, a prison sentence of up to 15 years was requested for the detained defendant Ceylan for the crime of 'causing the death of multiple people by negligence,' while an acquittal was requested for G.C.
8 YEARS OF PRISON SENTENCE
The trial of the defendants continued today at the Karşıyaka 3rd High Criminal Court. In addition to the defendants, lawyers and the families of the parties attended the hearing. The defendants, who made their defense regarding the opinion on the merits, requested acquittal. After the defenses, the decision was announced.
Ismet Ceylan was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in prison for the crime of 'causing the death of multiple people by negligence,' while the defendant G.C. was acquitted.