16.02.2026 17:30
The trial of Ferhat Karakaya, who killed his ex-wife Meliha Keskin three years ago by shooting her with a shotgun on the Erciyes University campus in Kayseri, has begun with a request for aggravated life imprisonment. It was alleged that Karakaya recorded the moments after the incident on his mobile phone as he approached his ex-wife Keskin and sent the footage to some of his relatives.
The defendant, who killed his ex-wife, mother of three children, Meliha Keskin, with a shotgun within the campus of Erciyes University in Kayseri, appeared before the judge.
KILLED HIS EX-WIFE WITH A SHOTGUN AT THE UNIVERSITY
The incident occurred on October 23 of last year around 11:30 AM at the Faculty of Arts of Erciyes University (ERÜ). Meliha Keskin, a Turkish Folklore student and mother of three, was shot with a shotgun by Ferhat Karakaya, from whom she divorced three years prior, at the entrance of the faculty building.
Upon notification, police and medical teams were dispatched to the faculty. Injured Keskin was taken to Erciyes University Medical Faculty Hospital after the initial intervention by the teams. Despite all medical efforts, Keskin could not be saved. After the incident, Karakaya, who fled in his car, was caught by police and arrested in the court he was brought to.
Meliha Keskin was buried in the Başakpınar neighborhood of Talas district after the autopsy procedures. It was also learned that Keskin's dream was to be a teacher and that she returned to university after her divorce. It was reported that Meliha Keskin's three children were placed under the protection of the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services.
INDICTMENT PREPARED
The investigation conducted by the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was completed, and an indictment was prepared. In the indictment accepted by the Kayseri Heavy Penal Court, aggravated life imprisonment was requested for Ferhat Karakaya for the crime of 'premeditated murder.'
TRIAL BEGAN
In the first hearing of the case held at the Kayseri 1st Heavy Penal Court, the detained defendant Ferhat Karakaya, the complainant relatives of the deceased Meliha Keskin, and the lawyers of the parties were present. The lawyer of the Ministry of Family and Social Services also intervened in the case. Due to the trial, intense security measures were taken within the courthouse. During the hearing, defendant Ferhat Karakaya stated, "We got married in 2008. I was living with my parents. During this process, she started stealing my father's jewelry and money. We warned her. We also told her family. We moved to a separate house because she continued this behavior. If I were going to kill her, I would have done it when she filed for divorce. They targeted my father's and my property. We divorced in 2022. I was paying alimony. We were married for 10 years. We divorced because she cheated on me. I bought the shotgun I used in the incident online two years ago for use in the village. It was unlicensed. I rented the vehicle to go to the village. I saw Meliha getting into a taxi as she was leaving the house. I swear I didn't know she was going to university and that she was in her 4th year. She was hanging out with bad friends," he said.
"MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY WAS AT RISK"
In response to the judge's question, 'You are divorced, what does it matter to you?' Karakaya said, "I heard she was hanging out with women who work as escorts. I applied to CIMER and the police out of concern for my children's safety. I also asked the neighbors. They said, 'There are days when she doesn't come home for 2-3 days.' My psychology deteriorated. I had been using psychiatric medication for 3 years. I went to her door to talk," he replied.
1500 BASE RECORDS FOUND NEAR THE VICTIM'S HOUSE
The judge reminded the defendant that there were various HTS records from different base stations located 500, 650, 800, and 850 meters away from the house where his ex-wife Keskin lived, and that a total of nearly 1500 mobile phone base records had emerged at different times. In response, defendant Karakaya said, "A few months before this incident, I followed her because I didn't believe the neighbors. I wanted to see with my own eyes. I saw her leaving a hotel and a residence a few times. There was a restraining order. I had been in jail three times for four days. I followed her because I thought she was either going to a hotel or meeting with bad friends," he said.
ENTERED SAYING "I HAVE A 10-MINUTE JOB"
Karakaya also explained that he saw Meliha Keskin entering the university campus by taxi but remained outside the gate, saying, "The shutter at the entrance closed. I told the staff, 'My wife went inside. I will talk for 10 minutes and come out,' and I also went inside. Meliha entered the faculty. She didn't come out for 15-20 minutes. I asked someone there what she was doing because I didn't know. They said students were coming. To avoid causing trouble, I wrapped the shotgun in my tracksuit. I shouted after her, 'Don't run, I won't do anything.' In a panic, I don't know how many shots I fired. There were people shouting from the surroundings. I couldn't unlock my phone. People around said, 'You drop the gun, we will call the ambulance.' I didn't go to her to record a video. I learned at the police station that the video went to someone else. While going to the police, I surrendered to the officers. I am very regretful. I am still affected. I wouldn't want to leave my three children without a mother," he stated. It was also revealed that defendant Ferhat Karakaya had saved the deceased Keskin in his phone as 'child of a whore.' In his defense regarding this, he said, "I saved it like that because she handcuffed me twice and didn't take care of my children after eating my money."
"I AM A COMPLAINANT"
Meliha Keskin's father, I.K., stated that he was a complainant, saying, "They couldn't stand my daughter's continuing education. He was saying, 'I will kill your daughter.' We were sending her to school by taxi to ensure her safety. I am a complainant," he said. Keskin and defendant Karakaya's son, H.K., stated, "My mother was always with us. She never left us alone. We did not want to meet this person in any way. But we were forced to meet due to a court order. When we met, he would say, 'I won't let her eat, she will see her day soon, I will be the cause of her death.' He was accusing her of going abroad and being immoral. I am a complainant," he said. The lawyers of the victim's side also claimed that defendant Karakaya came to Keskin while she was gasping for breath after the incident, recorded a video, and sent it to some of his relatives.
MENTAL HEALTH REPORT TO BE OBTAINED
The court panel decided to continue the detention of defendant Ferhat Karakaya and ordered him to be sent to Kayseri City Hospital to obtain a mental health report to determine whether he had criminal capacity. The panel also decided to listen to some relatives of Karakaya, who were alleged to have recorded and sent a video after the murder, as witnesses and postponed the hearing.