01.06.2026 15:40
The official report on Serkan Ürkmez, who killed his wife of 26 years, Gülten Ürkmez, by shooting her in the head at a bus stop after she rejected a reconciliation offer in Çatalca, has been completed; the murder suspect, who had previously sent a wreath to his wife's workplace with the message "I loved you immortal" and shared a photo of a gun on social media with the caption "Everything will end soon," had his defense of "the gun accidentally fired" rejected, and an aggravated life sentence was sought for premeditated murder.
In Catalca, a request was made for aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of 'premeditated murder of a spouse' against suspect Serkan Urkmez (49), who was determined to have sent a wreath to his wife Gulten Urkmez (41), whom he killed at a bus stop the day before, and a prison sentence of 2 to 4 years for the crime of 'unlicensed possession of a weapon'.
In the incident that occurred in Binkilic Ataturk District on Saturday, February 21, around 1:00 PM, Serkan Urkmez, who argued with his wife Gulten Urkmez, left the house. Three days later, Urkmez came to the neighborhood and killed his wife Gulten Urkmez, whom he encountered at the bus stop, by shooting her in the head. After the incident, suspect Serkan Urkmez, who first hid at his workplace and then at home, was detained after a while by the Gendarmerie Crime Investigation Team (JASAT). Urkmez was arrested by the duty court and sent to prison.
INDICTMENT PREPARED
In the indictment prepared by the Catalca Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the murder, it was stated that the suspect Serkan Urkmez, who fled on a motorcycle, was captured by law enforcement in a field. It was reported that examinations of his phone revealed he shared a photo with a black wreath in his profile on a messaging app. The indictment explained that the suspect husband Urkmez had problems with his wife due to gambling and alcohol use, and had not been living at home for some time. Additionally, it was noted that the suspect shared a photo of the gun used in the crime on social media the day before the incident with the note 'Everything will end soon'.
WREATH WITH NOTE 'I LOVED YOU IMMORTALLY'
In the indictment, which included information that the suspect shared a photo of his wife Gulten Urkmez on social media with the message 'If my wife of 26 years rejects me, what can anyone say?', it was also stated that he ordered a large wreath and sent it to his wife's workplace, with the words 'I loved you immortally, Serkan' on the wreath. On the other hand, according to the autopsy report prepared by the Forensic Medicine Institute Morgue Specialization Department, it was reported that the bullet entry wound on Gulten Urkmez's body was from a close range.
SENT THE WREATH BECAUSE HE DECIDED TO KILL HIMSELF
In his statement, Serkan Urkmez claimed that he was trying to resolve the problems with his wife and said he went home that day to see his children. Urkmez, stating that he saw his wife at the stop, alleged that he approached her and tried to hug and talk to her. Additionally, in his statement, Urkmez noted that he was drunk that day and had a gun with him, saying the gun went off without him understanding what happened, that he wanted to kill himself, not his wife, and that he was sorry. On the other hand, suspect Urkmez claimed that he sent the wreath to his wife earlier because he decided to kill himself, and that the phrase 'Everything will end soon' in his armed social media post was written for himself.
CONSIDERED 'PLANNED MURDER'
In the indictment, it was stated that when evaluating the events before and during the incident, it is not possible to accept that the killing occurred suddenly, that the incident as a whole reveals a planned intention and motive to kill, and that the suspect's action was premeditated and planned. The indictment, which included information that the suspect chased his wife on a motorcycle and killed her with an unlicensed gun at the bus stop that day, stated that the murder suspect harbored resentment towards his wife who rejected his reconciliation offer, made the decision to kill, and obtained the gun used in the incident by preparing. On the other hand, it was requested that suspect Serkan Urkmez be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of 'premeditated murder of a spouse' and 2 to 4 years in prison for the crime of 'purchasing, carrying, or possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition'.