15.05.2026 16:30
The penalty has been announced for Ali Eren Somun, who killed his estranged wife Sinem Somun by climbing through the balcony into her home in Trabzon and also wounded a security guard who came to help. The defendant, who told the court, "I am not requesting my release. I believe I should be punished. If I were going to kill, I would have done so without leaving evidence," was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment.
On the evening of July 31, 2025, a blood-curdling incident occurred in Adacık District, affiliated with Beşikdüzü district of Trabzon. Despite a restraining order issued against him, Ali Eren Somun climbed through the back balcony and entered the apartment where his two-year wife Sinem Somun, from whom he was in the process of divorcing, was staying. As the argument that started at home escalated, neighbors who noticed the noise reported the situation to the security guards on duty outside.
KILLED HIS WIFE, WOUNDED THE SECURITY GUARD
During the ensuing scuffle, Ali Eren Somun opened fire on his wife with the pistol he had. Hit in the leg and back, Sinem Somun succumbed to her injuries despite all interventions. The suspect also shot at the security guard who arrived at the scene while trying to flee. The guard, wounded by a bullet to the leg and operated on at the hospital, was discharged after treatment.
CAUGHT IN THE FOREST WHERE HE CHANGED CLOTHES AND HID
Sinem Somun, a graduate of Mersin University's Maritime Transportation Department and preparing to start as a captain on the ship where she worked about 10 days after the incident, was laid to rest in Eynesil district of Giresun. Ali Eren Somun, who cut his hair, beard, and eyebrows to conceal his identity after the murder, was caught in a tent he set up in a forested area in Sinop, where he had fled by motorcycle. Taken into custody, the suspect was arrested by the court he was brought before and sent to prison.
APPEARED BEFORE THE JUDGE FOR THE THIRD TIME
A lawsuit was filed against detained defendant Ali Eren Somun, demanding aggravated life imprisonment along with up to 25 years in prison for the charges of 'premeditated murder of a spouse', 'chain threats', 'attempted murder of a person due to their public duty', and 'unlicensed possession of a firearm'. Today, as part of the case, Somun was brought before the judge for the third time at the Trabzon 2nd Heavy Penal Court.
"I AM NOT REQUESTING MY RELEASE"
Somun, who attended the hearing from the prison in Elazığ where he is detained via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBIS), said in his defense, "I am not requesting my release. I already think I should be punished, I am not saying I am not guilty. The incident was entirely an accident. My wife died from a bullet that came out of my gun. I am calmly defending myself. There are pains, I also have my pain. I never raised a hand to my wife. I am suffering my pain. I keep my wife's picture in the ward. I had enough time that day to kill Sinem. If I were going to kill her, I would have done it in a way that left no evidence. There is no threat in the letter I sent to her family. I only said I wanted to bury my wife Sinem in our family cemetery. I want a fair trial. I don't think my trial is fair," he said.
SINEM'S GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER LEFT THE HALL
During Somun's speech, grandmother Gülizar Topaloğlu and grandfather Ali Hayri Topaloğlu, who were present at the hearing, left the hall.
SENTENCED TO AGGRAVATED LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Announcing its decision, the court panel sentenced Ali Eren Somun to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of 'premeditated murder of a spouse', and for his action against security guard Emrah Erata, he was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months for injuring a public official and 3 years for unlicensed possession of a firearm.