05.03.2025 16:11
The trial of Bilal Dilek, who killed 79-year-old Nihat Salih in Istanbul and then dismembered his body, throwing the parts into trash containers, has begun with charges of aggravated life imprisonment. The victim's son claimed that there was a financial dispute between his father and the defendant, stating, "He was putting my father's corpse under the sofa when guests came over and continued to cut it up after they left."
On May 27, 2024, an incident occurred in Pendik Dumlupınar Neighborhood, where it was determined that there were dismembered body parts found in 4 separate containers. In the investigations conducted by the police teams, it was identified that the body parts belonged to 79-year-old Nihat Salih. In the camera recordings located in the neighborhood, it was determined that the suspect Bilal Dilek (39) threw a number of items into the trash containers and that an axe was found in his house. After the investigations, Bilal Dilek was arrested. Yesterday, the first hearing of the case was held at the Anadolu 24th High Criminal Court. The hearing was attended by the detained suspect Bilal Dilek, the complainants, and the lawyers of the parties.
"HE USED TO COME AND GO TO OUR HOUSE" The suspect Bilal Dilek stated in his defense, "I have known the victim for 10 years. He used to come and go to our house. I called him 'Uncle Nihat'. I never visited him at his house. Two years before the incident, my wife and children went to my hometown Karabük. The house I live in is rented. My friends also used to come and go to the house. When Nihat Salih came to my house, I had other friends around. We were drinking tea and chatting. We both used to take green prescription pills. I have a green prescription. He also had a green prescription and was taking green prescription pills. I take 4 boxes, and Uncle Nihat also took 4 boxes. Uncle Nihat was selling his pills to me and my friends. He was making a living by selling green prescription pills," he said.
"THE AXE FOUND AT HOME DOES NOT BELONG TO ME" Continuing his defense, Dilek said, "I have no knowledge or connection regarding Nihat Salih's death. I called him at 2:00 PM. He came to the back of my house. I was cleaning the trash and dirt around the house. I went to Zeynep G.'s house. I picked up the dirt around the house and threw it in the trash. I did not throw anything like a blanket or carpet in the trash. There were tea waste and wood pieces in the trash can, which I threw away. I walked 150 meters after leaving the house. I saw a trash can. To avoid hitting my hands and feet, I took the can from the side of the road and dumped the trash inside. I threw the can away in a place far from the trash because I was going to take it back. The axe found in the house does not belong to me, and I do not know to whom it belongs. The Roma children took the axe and left. They took it three months before the incident. I have a stove in my house, and I burn coal. The axe that is claimed to have been found in my house on the day of the incident does not belong to me," he said.
"I DON'T EVEN SMOKE IN FRONT OF UNCLE NİHAT" Talking about the friendship between him and Nihat Salih, the suspect Bilal Dilek said, "I don't know who left it. Whoever entered the house must have placed the axe there. I have no enmity with Nihat Salih. I don't even smoke in front of Uncle Nihat. I don't know who killed him. In 2018, I took a woman who had a child as a second wife. When I took the second wife, I was separated from my wife. That woman also went back to her husband. At 12:00 PM, Remzi Ç. and Ramazan G. came to my house. When they came, Nihat did not come. They also used to buy pills from Nihat Salih. I learned about the victim being dismembered and killed while in custody. I did not kill the victim. May God punish the one who did this. A year before the incident, he was coming to me. On the day of the incident, my friends came, and we used synthetic drugs. I met Nihat Salih outside around 2:00-2:30 PM. I did not stop by the house at all that day. I don't know who did the incident," he said.
"HOW DID YOU MAKE MY FATHER SUFFER SO MUCH?" Nihat Salih's daughter, Gül Yazıcı, said, "I am a complainant, may he get what he deserves, may his oaths backfire. What kind of savage feelings would make someone do this to a 79-year-old man? How did you make my father suffer so much? All oaths are in vain. My father, who was like sugar, was a local there. Generally, everyone knew him. I do not know that my father used a green prescription drug. Until now, as his child, I told him to stay away from these things. I was only going to visit my father and brother. May God reform him. This will not go unpunished. How can a person do this? My father was very old. He always gave them bread. First, we trust God, then you. If he has regretted it, he should not hide it and confess," she said.
"HE CONTINUED TO CUT AFTER THE GUEST LEFT" The deceased Nihat Salih's son, Özcan Salih, stated, "I live with my father. My father used to go to his former tenants. He would not stay overnight. The suspect knew us. My father would go occasionally. There was a debt issue between my father and the suspect. My father was a creditor and had given money in hand. We warned my father, 'Don't help the suspect, he is deceiving you,' we said. My father said, 'It's a pity, he is poor.' Most of the suspect's villagers are from our area. When guests came, my father would put the corpse under the sofa and take a break, and when the guests left, he would continue to cut," he expressed.
THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED The court panel, which decided to continue the suspect's detention, adjourned the hearing to May 22, 2025, for the completion of the deficiencies.