29.12.2025 17:55
The defendant Aref Elhussein, who is on trial for the murder of 45-year-old Nida Nazlıer in Antalya, appeared before the judge for the first time. In his defense, the defendant stated, "I took the glass from the table and hit her on the head. I took the gold she was wearing. I also took her phone, smashed it, and threw it in the trash."
In the case regarding the murder of 45-year-old Nida Nazlıer in Antalya, the detained defendant Aref Elhussein, who is facing a request for aggravated life imprisonment for 'intentional murder with monstrous feelings and torture', appeared before the judge for the first time. In his defense, the defendant claimed that he had a relationship with the victim and that a dispute arose, stating, "I took the glass from the table and hit her on the head."
The incident occurred on July 31 at around 5:00 PM in a five-story building on Cebesoy Street in the Zerdalilik neighborhood of the Muratpaşa district. Halil İ. (23), who had just finished work, came to the home of his friend Nida Nazlıer. Upon entering the house, Halil İ. found Nazlıer in the bathroom covered in blood. Emergency health and police teams, who arrived at the scene after the report, determined that Nazlıer had lost her life.
Halil İ., who found Nazlıer, and H.H. (39), who was identified as the last person to have spoken to the victim on the phone and came to the house to retrieve a key, were taken into custody.
SYRIAN NATIONAL ARRESTED
Teams from the Antalya Police Department's Homicide Bureau examined over 80 security camera recordings after the incident to identify the suspect. Aref Elhussein (28), a Syrian national identified as living in the Güneş neighborhood of the Kepez district, was captured in an operation. The suspect's identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis.
Along with Elhussein, Halil İ. and H.H. were taken to the courthouse after undergoing health checks following their statements. During the hospital procedures, a blood sample was taken from Elhussein, and it was noted that his right hand was bandaged. In his statement, Elhussein admitted to the crime, claiming that he and Nazlıer had an agreement regarding their relationship, that a mirror was broken during their argument, that he was attacked with glass shards, and that he fled upon seeing Nazlıer covered in blood. Elhussein was arrested for 'intentional murder' while Halil İ. and H.H. were released.
AGGRAVATED LIFE IMPRISONMENT REQUEST IN THE INDICTMENT
In the prepared indictment, an aggravated life sentence was requested for the defendant Aref Elhussein for 'intentional murder with monstrous feelings and torture'. The indictment also included the defendant's defense, in which he claimed that the victim had sexually assaulted him. Following this claim, an internal body examination was conducted on the defendant by the Antalya 2nd Criminal Court of Peace. The examination found no evidence to support the sexual assault claim, and the defendant's statements were assessed as attempts to evade responsibility for the crime.
"I TOOK THE GLASS FROM THE TABLE AND HIT HER ON THE HEAD"
With the acceptance of the indictment by the Antalya 4th High Criminal Court, the first hearing of the opened case was attended by the parties and the defendant's lawyers. The defendant Aref Elhussein, in his defense, claimed that he had a relationship with the victim and that a dispute arose, stating, "She tried to stop me. I took the glass from the table and hit her on the head. There was a struggle between us. I lost my temper and hit her against the mirrored wardrobe by her hair. The mirror broke. She stabbed a glass shard into my left foot. She wanted to kill me."
"I PUT MY BLOODY CLOTHES IN A BAG"
Elhussein stated that he did not realize whether Nazlıer was dead or not, saying, "I took the gold from her. I also took her phone, broke it, and threw it in the trash. Since I had blood on me, I found clothes in the house and wore them. My face was scratched with nail marks, so I took a shirt from inside and wrapped it around my face. I called a taxi and came to work. I put my bloody clothes in a bag."
The court panel decided to continue the defendant's detention and postponed the hearing to a later date.