15.06.2026 18:01
In the case regarding the death of Kerem Karakaya, who lost his life 8 years ago in Yalova, the prosecutor demanded that the defendant mother Serpil B. be sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of 'intentional killing'. Evaluating criminal reports, gunshot residue findings, and contradictions in the child's statements, the prosecutor held Serpil B., the mother, responsible for Kerem Karakaya's death.
In Yalova, a significant development occurred in the case regarding the death of 11-year-old Kerem Karakaya in 2018, who was shot and killed by his classmate F.B. with a rifle. Following the claims put forward by the grieving family and their lawyers, the prosecutor announced his final opinion on the merits regarding Serpil B., the mother of F.B., who has been tried in the heavy penal court. The prosecutor demanded that the defendant be sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional killing."
"F.B.'S STATEMENTS WERE DIRECTED"
At the hearing held at the Yalova 3rd Heavy Penal Court, the defendant Serpil B. did not attend, while the prosecutor presented his opinion on the merits.
In the opinion, it was stated that considering the location of the rifle, F.B.'s age and physical characteristics at the time of the incident, the weight of the rifle according to criminal reports, and the father T.B.'s statements, it was very difficult for the child to access the rifle.
It was also emphasized that in his initial statements, F.B. repeatedly said he had never used the rifle before, but in later statements, he provided detailed information about the rifle's working principle. The prosecutor noted that this situation indicates the statements may have been directed and do not reflect the child's true will.
CRIMINAL REPORTS DREW ATTENTION
According to the criminal reports included in the opinion, it was stated that it was very difficult for F.B., who was 11 years and 8 months old at the time of the incident, to cock the rifle and make it ready to fire, as well as to unload it after firing.
The prosecutor's office emphasized that the rifle did not automatically eject the empty cartridge after each shot, and the cartridge had to be removed manually. Therefore, considering the age and physical structure of F.B., who claimed he had never used the rifle before, it was stated that it seemed impossible for him to use the weapon and then remove the empty cartridge.
SHOT RESIDUE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE OPINION
The prosecutor stated that in F.B.'s statements, he said his mother did not touch the rifle, but shot residue was detected in all swap samples taken from Serpil B.'s right hand, left hand, and especially the facial area.
In the opinion, it was noted that the defendant said in her statement the day after the incident that she had used the rifle about a week earlier, but in later statements, she changed this period to 1-2 days earlier. The prosecutor expressed that the presence of shot residue, especially on the facial area, could not be explained.
Additionally, it was evaluated that the shot residues found on F.B.'s hands and clothes might have been formed as a result of contact with the weapon after the incident.
DEMAND FOR LIFE IMPRISONMENT
In the prosecutor's opinion, it was stated that the person responsible for Kerem Karakaya's death was not F.B. but his mother Serpil B., and demanded that the defendant be sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of "intentional killing."
Şermin Tankut, the lawyer for Kerem Karakaya's family, stated that there was a suspicion of the defendant fleeing and requested her arrest.
The court panel, after a short break, rejected the arrest request and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
"WE ARE HOPEFUL NOW"
Speaking after the hearing, lawyer Şermin Tankut said, "We have entered the 6th hearing of Kerem Karakaya. Yes, we are hopeful now. Because in the opinion on the merits, our prosecutor found S.B. guilty and requested her to be charged with intentional murder. However, the opposing party's lawyers did not come to the hearing again. And the court was adjourned to July 7. It will be a decision hearing. We hope that the court will decide in that direction. Because we have always been right and our righteousness continues. The victimization of this family has still not ended for 8 years. We requested arrest. They rejected the arrest again. I wish everyone were protected this much."
GRIEVING MOTHER'S CALL FOR JUSTICE
In an emotional statement, mother Rahime Karakaya said, "I want the killer of my child. Today or tomorrow, I will put you there, S.B. I have sworn to my son, I have vowed to my son. I will not have my son's grave made until I find his killer. I hope I will lock you up there, and then I will have my child's grave made. I want the killer of my child. I want justice."
BACKGROUND OF THE INCIDENT
In the incident that occurred on June 3, 2018, in Akköy, a village connected to the Termal district of Yalova, Kerem Karakaya (12) had gone to his school friend F.B.'s house in the morning hours. According to the claim, F.B., playing with a break-action shotgun located in the wood shed of the house, shot his friend Kerem Karakaya in the head.
Because F.B. lacked criminal capacity, his mother S.B. was being tried in the Yalova 5th Basic Criminal Court for the crime of "causing death by negligence." However, the court, citing reasons such as the weight of the rifle, the fact that it was fired twice, the change of the cartridge, the difficulty of the child knowing the firing mechanism of the weapon, the incomplete collection of evidence, and the suspicion of intentional killing, filed a criminal complaint with the Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The prosecutor's office, completing the investigation, demanded in the prepared indictment that Serpil B. be punished for the crime of intentional killing.