22.07.2026 13:20
The reasoned decision was announced for the aggravated life sentence given to uncle Yusuf Aydemir in the murder case of 3-year-old Leyla Aydemir, whose body was found in Ağrı in 2018, 18 days after she went missing. In the court's decision, it was recorded that the uncle hid the little girl in a cool place such as a well or barn for a while, then killed her and left her body in a riverbed when search activities decreased.
The rationale behind the aggravated life imprisonment sentence given to uncle Yusuf Aydemir for "intentional killing of a child" has been announced in the retrial of seven defendants, one of whom is in custody, regarding the death of Leyla Aydemir.
In the reasoned decision of the Ağrı 1st Heavy Penal Court, it was recalled that a search was initiated for Leyla, who went missing on June 15, 2018, while visiting Bezirhane village with her family, and that the lifeless body of the child was found among trees near a stream.
The reasoned decision stated that although the cause of Leyla's death could not be fully determined in forensic reports, she did not die of hunger or thirst, and there was no evidence indicating she had been left unattended for a long period.
CONSCIOUSLY PLACED IN A LOCATION WITH HIGH PROBABILITY OF BEING FOUND
The decision explained that despite intensive search efforts lasting 17 days, Leyla could not be found, but after an informant tip directed teams to a different area and village patrols decreased, she was found in a streambed near the village. It was concluded that Leyla was not lost but was detained against her will for a certain period, and after being killed, the perpetrator consciously placed her in a location where she was likely to be found.
The decision noted that the victim was 3 years old at the time of the incident, making it impossible for her to have been killed by her own actions or a sudden event with the perpetrator, and due to her age, she could not have had personal conflicts with anyone. It was assessed that she might have been killed by someone who had a conflict with her parents.
LITTLE LEYLA WAS DETAINED
The reasoned decision stated that during the period between Leyla's disappearance and the discovery of her body, searches were not conducted in the homes of relatives. It was concluded that father Nihat Aydemir did not file a complaint regarding the incident, and Leyla was detained by a close relative and hidden in the home of a relative in the village during this time.
Including witness statements, the decision expressed the belief that the crime was known to have occurred within the family and thus was intentionally not discussed openly.
PHONE REACTIVATED AFTER LEYLA WAS FOUND
The reasoned decision included evidence, victim and plaintiff statements, forensic reports, witness testimonies, defendants' defenses, and the grounds cited in the indictment for punishment. It was noted that although the internet connected to the SIM card used by Yusuf Aydemir was off between June 15, 2018, and July 2, 2018, it was reactivated after Leyla was found.
Yusuf Aydemir's defense that he used a smartphone before the victim's disappearance but switched to a keypad phone afterward, could not load internet because he could not come to the city center due to the incident, and gave his phone for repair, was included. The decision reported that during a press statement in Ağrı city center, he was seen holding a smartphone, but after the incident, he changed his phone to a keypad model and turned off his internet to avoid implication.
According to the report of the 1st Specialization Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute dated July 30, 2018, the death time could not be precisely determined because the victim was kept in a cold environment, and death likely occurred between the three days prior to July 2, 2018 (when she was found) and June 15, 2018 (when she disappeared).
CAUSE OF DEATH UNDETERMINED
The reasoned decision, covering the autopsy findings, stated that skin integrity was preserved, no injuries on the head, chest, or abdominal cavity, no intracranial bleeding, brain tissue loss, brain hemorrhage, internal organ or major vessel injury were found, the skeletal system was intact, and the cause of death could not be determined.
In the evaluation of defendant Yusuf Aydemir, it was stated that he hid Leyla in an undisclosed location at the time and then returned home.
The decision noted that after Leyla's disappearance was noticed, Yusuf Aydemir detained the child in his home for a while and recorded:
"After the search efforts began, due to many people coming to their home, defendant Yusuf Aydemir took precautions to ensure the victim's voice could not be heard and began hiding her in a cool place such as a water well or cellar found in all village houses. He occasionally did not participate in searches, switched off his phone while visiting the victim to avoid detection, and cared for her. The intense search operations in the village disrupted the defendant's life due to tight controls preventing villagers from entering or leaving without being searched."
The decision added: "It was concluded that defendant Yusuf cared for the victim in her hiding place, feeding her with milk, until her death. The victim was killed before June 26–27, 2018, in a manner not detectable by forensic medicine, and then kept in a cool place for a while to reduce search and inspection activities."
The reasoned decision also included information that Yusuf Aydemir transported the victim to a nearby stream with his tractor.
CASE BACKGROUND
In Ağrı, on June 15, 2018, 3-year-old Leyla Aydemir went missing while visiting her grandfather's house in Bezirhane village during Ramadan Bayram. A search was launched, and 18 days later, her lifeless body was found among trees near a stream, about 2 kilometers from the settlement.
A case was opened against seven defendants regarding Leyla's death at the Ağrı 1st Heavy Penal Court. In the verdict hearing on October 2, 2020, detained defendant uncle Yusuf Aydemir was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for "intentional killing" and 4 years in prison for "unlawfully depriving a person of liberty through coercion and deceit," while other defendants Y. A., B. D., H. D., M. A., M. A. A., and A. A. were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
REGIONAL COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNED THE LOCAL COURT'S DECISION
Examining the case file, the Erzurum Regional Court of Appeal's 1st Criminal Chamber pointed out that conviction required evidence beyond any doubt and various procedural deficiencies, overturning the local court's decision for all defendants and ordering the release of Yusuf Aydemir.
An objection to this decision by the Erzurum Regional Court of Appeal Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on January 4, 2021, was also rejected by the Regional Court of Appeal's 1st Criminal Chamber. The Erzurum Regional Court of Appeal Board of Presidents found the annulment decision of the 1st Criminal Chamber legally valid.
Following the decision to retry, all defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence by the Ağrı 1st Heavy Penal Court on October 8, 2021. Upon objection, the file was reviewed and found lawful by the Erzurum Regional Court of Justice 1st Criminal Chamber. The Court of Cassation Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, deeming the acquittal decisions for the 7 retried defendants unlawful, requested the reversal of the verdict, and the Court of Cassation 1st Criminal Chamber overturned the decision regarding the defendants. As a result of the retrial, uncle Yusuf Aydemir was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of 'intentional killing of a child,' 6 years in prison for 'deprivation of liberty,' and 3 years in prison for 'deprivation of liberty through force and deception against a child.' The court ruled that the other defendants, A. A, Y. A, B. D, H. D, M. A. A., and M. A., who were tried without detention, were each acquitted due to lack of evidence for the crimes charged against them.