26.09.2025 14:35
In the trial of Ümitcan Uygun, who is being prosecuted for the death of Sema Esen, known as "Aleyna Çakır," witnesses described the violence and threats that occurred. The case, in which it was decided to send the camera recordings to an expert, has been postponed to December 12.
Regarding the death of Sema Esen, known to the public as "Aleyna Çakır," the trial of the defendant Ümitcan Uygun for the crimes of "encouraging suicide," "strengthening the decision to commit suicide," and "torture" is ongoing.
The hearing at the Ankara 34th Heavy Penal Court was attended by Ümitcan Uygun, who is in custody for another case, along with the lawyers of the parties. The families of the deceased Esen and the defendant Uygun also attended the hearing.
The presiding judge announced that witnesses would be heard after reading the documents that had arrived in the case file.
A WITNESS DESCRIBED THE THREATS AND ATTACKS
Witness H.T stated that he worked as a taxi driver for the deceased Esen and mentioned that he had encountered Uygun several times, saying, "Ümit intervened a few times when Sema was getting into the taxi. I also witnessed him throwing punches. He also blocked our way with his car. He tried to pull Sema out of the car, and I intervened. I heard him threaten, 'I will kill you.' I witnessed their fights 2-3 times, which happened about 4 months before Sema's death."
CRYING, HE SAID "SEMA COMMITTED SUICIDE"
Witness M.C.Ç stated that he had no information regarding this matter, mentioning that they had worked with the defendant and that they had gathered for a military celebration on the night of the incident, where the defendant was also present.
M.C.Ç expressed that they had consumed alcohol that night and that the defendant had asked his friends to drop him off at home, saying, "He called me around 03:00, saying, 'I have arrived home.' Later that same day, he called me crying, saying, 'Sema committed suicide, I am going to her house.'
HIS LAST WORDS WERE "FORGIVE ME"
Witness K.Ö. recounted that he was surprised when Sema called him at night, explaining that their relationship had been strained before the incident. He said, "When Sema called me, we talked about the cosmetic surgery I had just had. Ümitcan had said he was having dinner with his family. He ended the call by saying, 'forgive me.' I thought he said that because we were on bad terms. The next morning, I received the news of her death. Sema had a comfortable life. Ümitcan would tell her to work. I did not witness their fights."
Witness H.T.P stated that when he received the news of Esen's death, he went to the police station and saw the defendant crying there, providing the following statement:
"We were working at the same place as Sema. When she came, she would show me videos or the bruises on her body. We had a sister-brother relationship. I would tell her to leave, and she would say, 'he is winning my heart.' Since she occasionally came to work, we did not see each other very often. Sema was full of life; I do not think she would do anything to herself. When we first met, Sema was not using substances, but after Ümitcan, I noticed this change. Sema was always threatened with a gun; she even showed me a video where Ümitcan put a gun in his mouth."
After these statements, the defendant Uygun denied the accusations against him and stated that he did not know the individuals who were heard as witnesses.
The victim's lawyers stated that they did not accept the statements against them and would later submit a written defense, requesting the court to send the camera recordings back to the expert.
After the statements, the court panel announced its interim decision, accepting the request of the victim's lawyers to send the camera recordings back to the expert.
The hearing was adjourned until December 12.
BACKGROUND OF THE INCIDENT
On June 3, 2020, Ümitcan Uygun went to the house of his girlfriend Sema Esen, who lived in the Yükseltepe neighborhood of Keçiören, Ankara, and used the name "Aleyna Çakır." After she did not open the door, the door was opened by a locksmith, and Çakır's lifeless body was found.
An investigation was initiated regarding the incident, and it was determined that the footage shared on social media, claiming that Çakır was killed by her boyfriend, was recorded 1.5 months before the incident.
The indictment of the case requests that the defendant Uygun be punished for the crimes of "encouraging suicide, strengthening the decision to commit suicide," and "torture" related to Esen's death.