16.10.2026 15:24
A verdict has been issued in the case of 15-year-old Murat Duha Yıldız, who was beaten by a classmate at a high school in Biga, Çanakkale, and whose heart stopped. The detained defendant Y.C. was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months in prison for 'attempted intentional killing under unjust provocation.' Murat's family, who remained in intensive care for 45 days, found the sentence insufficient and announced they would appeal to a higher court.
In Çanakkale, at the final hearing held at the Biga Courthouse for Murat Duha Yıldız, who was beaten by his classmate, the 15-year-old detained defendant was sentenced to 5 years 9 months in prison for the crime of “attempted intentional homicide under unjust provocation.”
HIS HEART STOPPED, HE STAYED IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR 45 DAYS
The incident occurred on September 25, 2025, at 3:35 p.m. at Biga İÇDAŞ Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Biga district. According to the allegation, Murat Duha Yıldız (15) stepped on Y.C.’s (15) foot. Thereupon, Y.C. punched Murat Duha. Murat, affected by the punch, hit his head on a desk and fell to the ground. Y.C., however, continued to beat Murat, who was lying on the ground, with kicks and punches. After the on-duty teacher separated the fight, he reported the situation to the 112 emergency medical teams. Upon the report, medical teams came to the scene. After it was determined that Murat’s heart had stopped, following the intervention performed in the ambulance, his heart was restarted by the medical teams. Severely injured Murat Duha was first treated at Biga State Hospital and then in Çanakkale. Murat was found to have head trauma, lung collapse, and organ damage to the liver and pancreas. After 45 days of treatment in the intensive care unit in Çanakkale and then 15 days in a regular room, Murat was discharged.
5 YEARS 9 MONTHS PRISON SENTENCE
The final hearing was held at the High Criminal Court at the Biga Courthouse. Before the hearing, family members and relatives chanted slogans and unfurled banners in front of the courthouse, demanding justice for Murat Duha Yıldız. While the lawyers for the parties and Murat Duha Yıldız’s relatives attended the hearing in person, the suspect Y.C. attended by connecting via SEGBIS. At the final hearing, the suspect Y.C. was sentenced to 5 years 9 months in prison for the crime of “attempted intentional homicide under unjust provocation.”
Attorney Şeyma Çimendere, who said they would object to the ruling, said, “The decision rendered, of course, was not a satisfactory decision for us given the amount of punishment imposed and sentenced. The court panel imposed a sentence of 5 years 9 months. Our wish was that at least no discretionary reduction be applied. However, courts can apply a sentence reduction at their discretion due to the absence of a prior criminal record and the demeanor, attitude, and behavior before the court and the panel. Of course, there were certain circumstances and conditions, but these could only be applied within the limits of the law. It was not possible to go beyond that. After this stage, our only wish from our authorities, our state representatives, is that an appropriate legislative revision be made by taking into consideration all these matters in light of the changing conditions and circumstances of society. Our disadvantage here was this: the law changed, but even if juvenile status were removed from the scope of sentence reduction in the sense of the date of the incident, the law in favor of the defendant should have been applied as of the date of the incident. Unfortunately, we encountered such a result. Our decision is not yet final. It is subject to appeal and judicial review. We will try to get what we can from the higher court.”
MY SON IS A LIVING CORPSE
In a tearful statement, mother Çiğdem Yıldız said, “This should not have been the price for my son: 5 years 9 months. Soil was thrown over other children; a quilt was laid over my child. Is this the price for my son because a quilt was laid over him? My son is a living corpse. I did not want my son’s price to be this.”
Father Hasan Yıldız, on the other hand, objecting to the ruling and emphasizing that they would continue their legal remedies, said, “We will continue to seek our child’s rights to the fullest in a higher court. This was not a sufficient punishment. In the end, my child did not die, but he became bedridden. Therefore, we will continue to seek my child’s rights in a higher court.”