02.01.2026 19:24
A parking attendant, who had previously been convicted of murder and was released from prison through a pardon, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for injuring a customer he argued with by shooting him. Mobile phone footage from the incident played a significant role in the court's decision.
A parking attendant, who had previously been convicted of murder and was released from prison under amnesty, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for injuring a customer with a gun during an argument. Mobile phone footage from the incident was decisive in the court's decision.
DISPUTE IN PARKING LOT TURNED INTO ARMED ATTACK
The incident occurred on August 19, 2025, in a parking lot located in the Hançerli neighborhood of İlkadım district in Samsun. A dispute between parking attendant Hikmet Ulusal (73) and customer Murat Saraç (53) quickly escalated. Ulusal fired at Saraç with a gun he retrieved from his vehicle.
INJURED PERSONS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
As a result of the gunfire, Murat Saraç was injured, and during the ensuing struggle, Hikmet Ulusal was also injured in his right hand when the gun fired. Injured Saraç was taken to a private hospital, while Ulusal was taken to Gazi State Hospital. Checks revealed that the bullet that entered Saraç's waist exited from his armpit.
THE MOMENTS WERE RECORDED ON A MOBILE PHONE
Moments when Murat Saraç struggled on the ground for a long time to take the gun from Ulusal, who shot him, were recorded second by second by a citizen using a mobile phone camera. The footage was included in the case file.
PAST REVEALED
Investigations revealed that Hikmet Ulusal had killed a radio host with a gun in 1994 and was released from prison under the "Rahşan Ecevit amnesty" after serving time for that crime. Ulusal was detained after the incident but was not arrested at the initial stage.
STRIKING DEFENSES IN COURT
Defendant Ulusal claimed in court that he did not intend to kill, asserting that he fired to scare. Victim Murat Saraç stated that the defendant cursed at him and that he would die if the gun was fired a third time.
After watching the mobile phone footage during the hearing, the prosecutor requested that the defendant be punished for "attempted murder" and "possession of an unlicensed firearm."
14 YEARS IN PRISON
The court panel decided to sentence the defendant to a total of 14 years in prison, 11 years for "attempted murder" and 3 years for "possession of an unlicensed firearm." The continuation of the defendant's detention was ordered.