10.10.2025 22:57
The suspect in the murder of 76-year-old Hatice Kış, who was stabbed to death and then had her body set on fire in Çorum, drew criticism with his statements during the first hearing. The defendant, who claimed to have loved the elderly woman like a mother, said, "I apologize to the Turkish nation. However, I remember nothing." In response, the presiding judge reacted by saying, "Is this what love looks like? Don't love."
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Esref Kış, who lives in Akkise village in the Kargı district of Çorum, found the burned body of his wife, Hatice Kış, when he returned home from the mosque where he went for the Tarawih prayer.
AFTER BEING STABBED 8 TIMES, THE BODY WAS SET ON FIRE
Investigations at the scene revealed that Kış had 8 stab wounds on his body and that the body had been set on fire. It was also determined that 3 gold bracelets and a quantity of jewelry were stolen from the house. As a result of the investigation carried out by the gendarmerie teams, Murat Arıkan, who was detained as a suspect in the incident, was arrested by the court.
REQUEST FOR LIFE IMPRISONMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Çorum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, life imprisonment was requested for Murat Arıkan on charges of 'intentional killing', 'violation of the inviolability of the home', 'robbery', and 'damage to property'.
"I LOVED HER LIKE MY MOTHER"
Arıkan, who participated in the hearing via SEGBİS, stated in his testimony that he 'loved Hatice Kış like his mother', saying, "I had borrowed money from her before. That day I went to ask for money again. We chatted for a while, she poured cologne on me. She handed me a bag and said, 'This will help you.' As I was leaving, she said, 'You can't pay this debt.' I loved her very much. I had no intention of killing her. She had a knife in her hand; I don't remember how it happened. After the incident, I buried the gold so it wouldn't be lost. I am very sorry, I apologize to the Turkish nation," he said.
COURT PRESIDENT: IS THIS LOVE? DON'T LOVE
Upon this, the court president reacted by saying, "Is this love? Don't love." The court panel decided to continue the suspect's detention and postponed the hearing to address the deficiencies in the file.
WIFE AND DAUGHTER REACTED
Speaking in front of the courthouse after the hearing, Esref Kış, the husband of Hatice Kış, said, "I had gone to pray. When I returned, the inside of the house was pitch dark; it had been doused with gasoline and set on fire. When I embraced my wife, she had stuck to my hands. I brought water and extinguished the fire, shouting for help. My wife had been stabbed 8 times. This person tried to burn the house and destroy the evidence. I want him to receive the heaviest punishment." His daughter, Mulise Kış, said, "Today, my mother's trial was held. Everything Murat Arıkan said is a lie. I ask for prayers for my mother," she said.
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