13.12.2025 00:30
The trial regarding the Ezgi Apartment, which collapsed during the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, resulting in the loss of 35 lives, continued. During the hearing, a crisis arose concerning the expert witnesses; the defendants' lawyers reacted to the withdrawal of the expert panel from the case, stating that the withdrawal decision was unlawful. The hearing was postponed to April 24, 2026.
In Kahramanmaraş, the trial regarding the Ezgi Apartment, which collapsed in the February 6 earthquakes and resulted in the death of 35 people, continued.
"WE REQUEST OUR RELEASE"
In the hearing held at the 4th Heavy Criminal Court of Kahramanmaraş Courthouse, detained defendants S.K. and M.P. attended along with their lawyers. The defendants, who were given the floor during the hearing, reiterated their previous defenses, stating, "We request our release."
EXPERT WITNESS CRISIS IN THE HEARING
Prof. Dr. Ersan Şen, one of the defense lawyers, reacted to the withdrawal of the expert witness panel, stating that the withdrawal decision was unlawful. Şen conveyed that the experts assigned from Istanbul reported that they were under pressure, and he noted: "The two expert reports previously obtained by the court are in our favor. Nevertheless, an interim decision was made based on the KTÜ report from the investigation phase. The reasons for the withdrawal of the new panel should be investigated. It is not possible for the withdrawn panel to provide a healthy report. The case has matured; instead of obtaining a new report, the case should be concluded."
"AN OPERATION OF PERCEPTION IS BEING CARRIED OUT"
Defense lawyer Mesut Çakar also stated that the discussions regarding the expert reports are suspicious, criticizing the use of the KTÜ report as the sole reason for detention:
"Reports from some of Turkey's most prestigious universities are evident. The innocence of our clients is clear. For two years, they said 'column,' and it was understood that there was no column. A perception operation is being carried out on social media. We are willing to accept all conditions, including bail and house arrest; we request the release of our clients."
HEARING ADJOURNED
The court announced the following decisions during the hearing: the continuation of the defendants' detention, the maintenance of judicial control provisions in the same manner, the completion of deficiencies in the file, the filing of a criminal complaint against the expert witness panel, the assignment of a new expert witness panel, and the decision to keep the names of the new experts confidential upon the request of the parties. The hearing was adjourned to April 24, 2026.
"THERE ARE TWO REPORTS IN FAVOR, YET DETENTION CONTINUES"
After the hearing, lawyer Ersan Şen stated that the court had previously obtained reports from Istanbul and METU twice, and these reports clearly indicated that the cause of the building's collapse was due to static calculation, project, and design errors.
Şen emphasized that the defendants are bakery operators and that the renovations they made have been scientifically proven to be unrelated to the building's collapse, adding: "There are two reports in favor in this case. Nevertheless, our clients are being tried while detained. The court and the experts should not be under pressure. Do not make the bakery owners scapegoats. The case needs to be concluded now."
News: Muhammet ÖZER