21.10.2026 14:34
Ömer Arıkan (63), accused of killing his niece Amine Bozkurt (40) by firing 7 shots in front of a notary in Antalya on May 14 due to a land dispute, appeared before a judge for the first time. The defendant's lawyer, saying "My aim was not to kill, but to frighten," requested a report with a claim of schizophrenia. It emerged that Bozkurt had married 3 days before the incident; the court decided to obtain a mental health report and to continue his detention.
Ömer Arıkan (63), who was arrested on charges of killing his niece Amine Bozkurt (40) by firing 7 shots due to a land dispute in ANTALYA, appeared before a judge for the first time. In his defense, Arıkan said, 'My aim was not to kill her, I only wanted to frighten her. I caused the greatest harm to myself,' and it emerged that the niece he killed had married 3 days before the incident.
The incident occurred on May 14 around 15:00 in front of a notary on Sakarya Boulevard in the Yeşiltepe Neighborhood of Kepez district. Following a dispute over the sale of land, Ömer Arıkan fired 7 shots at Amine Bozkurt with a handgun. Bozkurt, who was wounded in the head, chest and abdominal area, died in hospital.
Teams caught Ömer Arıkan, who fled after the incident, walking about 1 kilometer away. Ömer Arıkan and his wife F.A. (64), who was with him during the incident, were taken into custody. The murder weapon was found on F.A., and the Arıkan couple was taken to the police station. After procedures at the police department, Ömer Arıkan was referred to the courthouse and arrested by the on-duty judge, while his wife F.A. was released under judicial control.
MARRIED 3 DAYS AGO
In the investigation, it emerged that Amine Bozkurt had married 3 days before the incident and that after going to the civil registry office to change her identity, she met her maternal uncle Ömer Arıkan at the notary. Detained defendant Ömer Arıkan appeared before a judge for the first time at the Antalya 1st High Criminal Court on the charge of 'deliberately killing a woman,' and his wife F.A. on the charge of 'concealing evidence of a crime.'
In his defense, defendant Ömer Arıkan explained that he bought the land in installments in 1991 and spent his savings on the land. Touching on the fact that at the time he bought the land he had to register a portion of it in his father's name, and that after his father's death he prevented his siblings from obtaining the title deed, Arıkan said, 'We are 6 siblings. Because of this land, I struggled with my siblings for 23 years. I thought the land was my right. I had paid the entire price with my own labor and sweat. However, I was not strong enough against my siblings. To resolve the problem by agreement, I had previously gone to Amine's house. However, Amine and her husband attacked me with kicks and slaps and threw me out into the street. Despite this, I did not file a complaint because I thought I could come to an agreement with my niece in the future.'
'MY AIM WAS NOT TO KILL, BUT TO FRIGHTEN'
Stating that on the day of the incident they would meet a contractor at the notary, defendant Arıkan said, 'Thinking that my siblings might also come, I took my jewelry with me. Because I was worried that my jewelry would be stolen, I also took my handgun with me. My handgun is unlicensed. However, the village where we live is a desolate place. Since there are dogs and wild boars around, I carried a handgun to protect myself. On the day of the incident, I met Amine Bozkurt and we sat at a cafe. I offered her 200 thousand lira to reach an agreement. However, she asked for 500 thousand lira. Later we went to the notary together. Before we even entered the notary, this time she said she wanted 1.5 million lira. Meanwhile, she swore at and insulted me. I got angry in the face of what happened. My aim was not to kill her with the gun, I only wanted to frighten her. I am very regretful because of what happened. I caused the greatest harm to myself.'
Arıkan said the following:
'After the incident, I walked away without even looking back. I have panic attacks. Because of the fear, panic and stress I experienced at that moment, I could not pull myself together. Later I gave the gun to my wife. My wife has nothing to do with the incident. I reported the incident myself. Upon my report, the police came and took me.'
SCHIZOPHRENIA CLAIM FROM HIS LAWYER
The defendant's lawyer stated that his client Ömer Arıkan was a schizophrenia patient and requested that a report be obtained to diagnose whether his mental balance was sound.
Defendant F.A. stated that her husband had panic attacks and said, 'I did not want to take the gun, but when he put it in my hand I could not say anything. At the time of the incident, I was sitting at the cafe. I heard the gunshots and Amine's insults. By the time I went over to them, it was over; Ömer was walking. I also got scared and panicked. I went toward the bus terminal. The police found me and I handed over the gun. My husband is ill; he gets angry quickly at the smallest things. He becomes suddenly furious.'
Explaining that her mother had married 3 days before the date of the incident, the victim's daughter Elisa Y. said, 'I never saw my mother's maternal uncle. On the day of the incident, I was with my father. I learned hours later that my mother had died. I knew my mother was coming to Antalya, but I did not know she would meet her uncle. I have been victimized. I want the defendants to be punished.'
The victim's husband Süleyman S. said, 'I was not there at the time of the incident. My wife had gone to reach an agreement with the contractor. She had gone because apartments were to be built in return for the land share. I am filing a complaint.'
The court panel decided that a health report be obtained to determine whether defendant Ömer Arıkan's mental health was sound, that the defendant's detention continue, and that the judicial control measure regarding F.A. consisting of the obligation to sign be lifted and replaced by a ban on traveling abroad.